Suddenly
/ˈsʌdənli/
Definitions
Happening or done quickly and unexpectedly; abruptly.
/ˈsʌdənli/
Happening quickly and unexpectedly
The rain started suddenly.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're walking down the street, and *suddenly* a dog jumps out from behind a bush! It means something happens very quickly and you weren't expecting it. It's like a surprise!
👶 For kids: When something happens real fast and you didn't see it coming!
More Examples
He suddenly remembered he had an appointment.
The car stopped suddenly.
How It's Used
"The lights went out suddenly."
"Suddenly, a storm rolled in, darkening the sky."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
all of a sudden
Happening very quickly and unexpectedly; abruptly.
"All of a sudden, the music stopped."
From Middle English *sudenly*, equivalent to *sudden* + *-ly*. *Sudden* itself derives from Old French *soudain*, from Latin *subitāneus* ('coming quickly, unexpected'), from *subitus* ('sudden').
The word has been used in English since the 14th century, often to emphasize the abruptness of an event.
Memory tip
Think of a 'sudden' turn - quick and surprising!