abruptly

adverb

abrupt·​ly ə-ˈbrəp(t)-lē How to pronounce abruptly (audio)
Synonyms of abruptlynext
: 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
The small, rocky Anacapa Island [California] has steep cliffs which rise abruptly from the ocean on almost every side …David J. Rutherford

Examples of abruptly in a Sentence

the car in front stopped abruptly, and we almost hit it
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Communications or conversations can feel abruptly charged or destabilizing during the Leo moon. Usa Today, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026 Kenwood Vineyards, a longtime Sonoma Valley winery, has abruptly closed its tasting room, and a new property sale raises fresh questions about the brand’s future. Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026 In February, about five weeks before opening day, Tony Clark abruptly stepped down as executive director of the MLBPA. Andrew Greif, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2026 This year's parade followed an unusually turbulent few days in Montana's political scene - half of its congressional delegation abruptly retired. Kirk Siegler, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for abruptly

Word History

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of abruptly was in 1565

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Abruptly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abruptly. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

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