abruptly
adverb
abrupt·ly
ə-ˈbrəp(t)-lē 
: in an abrupt manner : in a sudden and unexpected way
He left abruptly.
The car swerved abruptly onto the exit ramp.
Her career as a psychologist ended abruptly several years ago when a hacker broke into some of her private client files and made them public …—
Michael Logan
Michael LoganThe small, rocky Anacapa Island [California] has steep cliffs which rise abruptly from the ocean on almost every side …—David J. Rutherford
David J. RutherfordExamples of abruptly in a Sentence
the car in front stopped abruptly, and we almost hit it
Recent Examples on the Web
Gallup signed with the Raiders last offseason but abruptly retired during training camp.
—Vic Tafur, The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025
Federal agencies have continued to abruptly cancel and threaten contracts and grants for colleges, forcing some campuses to issue hiring freezes or pause graduate admissions.
—Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2025
News of the possible revocation of their legal status came nearly a week after Trump’s tense meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over a potential minerals deal at the White House ended abruptly.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 7 Mar. 2025
Changing the rules of that zone abruptly would have devastating consequences.
—arkansasonline.com, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abruptly
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Vic Tafur, The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025
Federal agencies have continued to abruptly cancel and threaten contracts and grants for colleges, forcing some campuses to issue hiring freezes or pause graduate admissions.
—Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2025
News of the possible revocation of their legal status came nearly a week after Trump’s tense meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over a potential minerals deal at the White House ended abruptly.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 7 Mar. 2025
Changing the rules of that zone abruptly would have devastating consequences.
—arkansasonline.com, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abruptly
Cite this Entry
“Abruptly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abruptly. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share