sudden
gb/sˈʌdən/ us/sˈʌdən/
A2
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Happening quickly and without warning
Happening very fast and when you do not expect it.
Usage pattern:
a sudden [event/change/noise]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'sudden' with 'soon'. 'Sudden' describes how something happens (quickly, unexpectedly), not when it will happen.
Synonyms
abrupt (Slightly more formal; can suggest rudeness when describing behavior.)
|
unexpected (Focuses more on the surprise element rather than speed.)
Antonyms
gradual (Happening slowly over time rather than quickly.)
Collocations
sudden change
|sudden movement
|sudden death
|sudden increase
|sudden stop
Themes
time
|daily life
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- There was a sudden change in the weather.
- She felt a sudden pain in her leg.
- The car came to a sudden stop.
- His sudden arrival surprised everyone.
- A sudden noise woke me up.
Learner examples
- I heard a sudden sound outside.
- The bus made a sudden stop.
- He had a sudden idea.
- We saw a sudden change in the sky.
- She felt a sudden fear.
Grammar
Expressions
all of a sudden
1/ˈɔl əv ə sˈʌdən/
fixed phrase
Very quickly and unexpectedly
Happening very fast and with no warning.
Examples
- All of a sudden, the dog started barking loudly.
- All of a sudden, the lights went out.
- We were talking when, all of a sudden, the lights went out.
- We were walking when, all of a sudden, it started to rain.
all of a sudden
2/ˈɔl əv ə sˈʌdən/
fixed phrase
suddenly and unexpectedly
Happening quickly without warning.
Examples
- All of a sudden, it started to rain.
- All of a sudden, the lights went out.