Abruptly
/əˈbrʌptli/
adverbB2
Definition
Abruptly describes an action or event that happens very fast and unexpectedly, often without any smooth or slow change. It shows a sudden stop, start, or change that can surprise people.
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⚡ See It in Action
Happening suddenly and without warning
- •The meeting ended abruptly when the fire alarm rang.
- •She left the room abruptly without saying goodbye.
- •The conversation stopped abruptly, making everyone feel confused.
Done in a rough or sharp way, sometimes showing impatience or anger
- •He answered abruptly, showing he was annoyed.
- •The teacher spoke abruptly to get the students' attention.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "abruptly" like "quickly," but with surprise and no warning before it happens
- ✓Picture a car stopping suddenly on the road, making a loud noise and jolting the passengers
- ✓It's the feeling when someone suddenly stops talking in the middle of a sentence and you don’t know why
- ✓Sounds like "a-BRUPT-ly" → imagine someone breaking a stick quickly with a sharp snap sound
- ✓Think of a story where a calm day ends abruptly with a sudden storm appearing
- ✓NOT like "slowly" (which is gentle and calm), "abruptly" is fast and sharp
- ✓NOT like "gradually" (which is a slow change), "abruptly" means no slow build-up, just sudden change
- ✓NOT like "carefully" (which is done with attention), "abruptly" often happens without planning or warning
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Suddenly: happening quickly and without warning (Use when the event is fast but not necessarily rude or sharp)
- •Quickly: at a fast speed (Use when focusing on speed only, without the surprise or sharpness)
- •Sharply: in a sudden and clear way (Use when the action is not only fast but also harsh or strong)
- •Unexpectedly: without expecting it (Use when emphasizing surprise more than speed)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Prefix: "ab-" meaning "away" or "off"
- •Root: "rupt" from Latin "rumpere" meaning "to break"
- •Suffix: "-ly" turns adjective "abrupt" into adverb (describes how something happens)
- •Origin: From Latin "abruptus," meaning broken off or steep, used in English since the 1600s
- •Modern usage: Used to describe sudden changes or actions that happen quickly and without warning, often with a feeling of surprise or rudeness
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can abrupt changes sometimes be helpful, or do they usually cause problems? Why?
•How do you feel when someone acts abruptly toward you? Can it be misunderstood?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.The meeting ended abruptly ___ the fire alarm went off without any warning.
2.She stopped talking abruptly, which made everyone feel ___.
3.Unlike a slow goodbye, he left the party abruptly ___ saying a word.
4.When someone speaks abruptly, they often sound ___ or impatient.
5.The car stopped abruptly ___ the driver saw an obstacle on the road.
6.The conversation changed abruptly ___ the topic was uncomfortable.
7.If a situation changes abruptly, it usually happens ___ any preparation or notice.