Suddenly — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective adverb /ˈsə-dᵊn/ sud·den

Meaning & Definition of Suddenly

Suddenly (adjective)

  1. happening or coming unexpectedly
  2. changing angle or character all at once
  3. marked by or manifesting abruptness or haste

Suddenly (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. with great suddenness

    "the bus stopped suddenly, and somebody's lunch landed in the aisle"

    similar: abruptly, short, all of a sudden
    related: surprisingly, unexpectedly, directly, immediately, incontinently, instantaneously, instantly, promptly, pronto, right, right away, right off, straightaway, fast, full tilt, posthaste, quick, quickly, rapidly, readily, snappily, speedily, swift, swiftly, hastily, impetuously, impulsively, rashly, recklessly
    near: gradually, slowly, hesitantly

  2. without warning

    "suddenly, something fell out of the sky and landed in the field a few feet away"

    similar: aback, unanticipatedly, unaware, unawares, unexpectedly, all of a sudden, off base
    related: abruptly, short, amazingly, astoundingly, surprisingly
    near: laggardly, leisurely, pokily, slowly, sluggishly, tardily, obviously

Related Entry: Sudden (adjective)

Sudden is a different word from Suddenly. The synonyms below are for sudden, not for suddenly.

  1. not expected

    "the sudden snowstorm resulted in thousands of evening commuters abandoning their cars on impassable highways"

    similar: abrupt, unanticipated, unexpected, unforeseen, unlooked-for
    related: unintended, unplanned, improbable, unlikely, startling, surprising
    opposite: anticipated, expected, foreseen
    near: predicted, prophesied, unsurprising

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Suddenly

The most common words with a similar meaning to Suddenly:

abruptly, short, aback, unanticipatedly, unaware, unawares, unexpectedly, all of a sudden, off base

Related Words for Suddenly

surprisingly, directly, immediately, incontinently, instantaneously, instantly, promptly, pronto, right, right away, right off, straightaway, fast, full tilt, posthaste, quick, quickly, rapidly, readily, snappily, speedily, swift, swiftly, hastily, impetuously, impulsively, rashly, recklessly, amazingly, astoundingly

Near Antonyms of Suddenly

gradually, slowly, hesitantly, laggardly, leisurely, pokily, sluggishly, tardily, obviously

Word Forms of Suddenly

Derived words: suddenly (adverb), suddenness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Suddenly

Middle English sodain, from Anglo-French sudain, from Latin subitaneus, from subitus sudden, from past participle of subire to come up, from sub- up + ire to go sub-, issue:1

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Suddenly

Frequently Asked Questions about Suddenly

What does "Suddenly" mean?

"Suddenly" means happening or coming unexpectedly. As an an adjective and an adverb, it is defined as: happening or coming unexpectedly. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Suddenly"?

Other words for "Suddenly" include abruptly, short, aback, unanticipatedly, unaware, unawares, unexpectedly and all of a sudden. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Suddenly" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Suddenly"?

There are 39 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Suddenly". Common alternatives include abruptly, short, aback, unanticipatedly, unaware, unawares, unexpectedly, all of a sudden and off base.

How do you use "Suddenly" in a sentence?

Examples of "Suddenly" in a sentence: "the bus stopped suddenly, and somebody's lunch landed in the aisle"; "suddenly, something fell out of the sky and landed in the field a few feet away".

Is "Suddenly" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Suddenly" can be used as an adjective and an adverb, depending on the context.

Is "Suddenly" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Suddenly" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Suddenly"?

"Suddenly" is pronounced /ˈsə-dᵊn/ and divided into syllables as sud·den.

What is the origin of the word "Suddenly"?

"Suddenly" comes from Middle English sodain, from Anglo-French sudain, from Latin subitaneus, from subitus sudden, from past participle of subire to come up, from sub- up + ire to go sub-, issue:1. First known use: 14th century.