rude
gb/ɹˈud/ us/ɹˈud/
A2
English
~ 1800
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
impolite or disrespectful
Not polite; not showing respect to others.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is rude to [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'rude' with 'crude'; 'crude' can mean offensive or unrefined, but 'rude' more commonly means impolite.
Synonyms
impolite (Slightly softer and more formal than 'rude'.)
|
discourteous (More formal term, often used in professional or written contexts.)
Antonyms
polite (Shows respect and good manners, opposite of 'rude'.)
|
courteous (Formal and positive in showing respect and kindness.)
Collocations
rude comment
|rude behavior
|rude remark
|rude gesture
|rude tone
Themes
daily life
|communication
|emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- It was rude of him to interrupt her.
- She found his loud chewing very rude.
- The waiter was surprisingly rude to the customers.
- Please don’t be rude when you answer questions.
- He made a rude joke that offended many people.
Learner examples
- He was rude to the teacher.
- That man is very rude.
- It is rude to talk with your mouth full.
- She said a rude thing to me.
- Don’t be rude to your friends.
adjective
B2
property
2
sudden and unpleasant
Happening suddenly and in an unpleasant way.
Usage pattern:
a rude [awakening/shock/surprise]
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'rude' here means 'impolite', but in this sense it means 'unpleasantly sudden'. Context is important.
Synonyms
abrupt (Focuses on suddenness rather than emotional impact.)
|
harsh (Emphasizes severity or unpleasantness.)
Antonyms
pleasant (Enjoyable or agreeable, opposite of unpleasant.)
|
gentle (Soft or mild in effect, opposite of harsh.)
Collocations
rude awakening
|rude shock
|rude surprise
Themes
emotions
|events
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The bad news was a rude awakening for the team.
- She had a rude shock when she saw the bill.
- His sudden departure was a rude surprise to everyone.
- The storm gave campers a rude awakening in the night.
- The test results came as a rude shock.
Learner examples
- The loud noise was a rude surprise.
- I got a rude shock when I saw the price.
- The cold water was a rude awakening.
- We had a rude surprise at the party.
- The news was a rude shock to us.
adjective
C1
property
3
rough or unsophisticated
Simple and not well made; not finished or refined.
Usage pattern:
a rude [structure/tool/object]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the 'impolite' meaning; here it describes quality, not behavior.
Synonyms
rough (Focuses on being unfinished or coarse.)
|
primitive (Implies very basic and old-fashioned construction or methods.)
Antonyms
refined (Well-finished and sophisticated.)
|
polished (Finished to a high standard, smooth and elegant.)
Collocations
rude hut
|rude shelter
|rude tool
Themes
materials
|crafts
|daily_life
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They built a rude hut from branches and leaves.
- The artifact was a rude tool made of stone.
- Early settlers lived in rude shelters during the winter.
- The rude bench was just a plank on two logs.
- A rude fence marked the property line.
Learner examples
- We made a rude hut with wood.
- The man used a rude tool to cut the tree.
- They built a rude shelter for the night.
- This is a rude table made by hand.
- She sat on a rude bench outside.
Grammar
Dictionary form
rude
IPA
GB/ɹˈud/
US/ɹˈud/
Syllables & stress
rude (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (rude)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: rude
- Comparative: ruder
- Superlative: rudest
Word family
Expressions
a rude awakening
1/ə ɹˈud əwˈeɪkənɪŋ/
idiom
sudden unpleasant realization
A sudden and unpleasant change that shows things are not as good as you thought.
Examples
- Losing his job was a rude awakening about the state of the economy.
- The team's loss was a rude awakening after their winning streak.
a rude shock
1/ə ɹˈud ʃˈɑk/
fixed phrase
unexpected unpleasant surprise
An unpleasant surprise you did not expect.
Examples
- The high cost of repairs was a rude shock to the homeowner.
- Her sudden resignation gave the company a rude shock.