abrupt
[ uh-bruhpt ]
/ əˈbrʌpt /
adjective
sudden or unexpected: an abrupt departure.
curt or brusque in speech, manner, etc.: an abrupt reply.
terminating or changing suddenly: an abrupt turn in a road.
having many sudden changes from one subject to another; lacking in continuity or smoothness: an abrupt writing style.
steep; precipitous: an abrupt descent.
Botany.
truncate(def 4).
Origin of abrupt
1575–85; < Latin
abruptus broken off (past participle of
abrumpere), equivalent to
ab-
ab- +
-rup- break +
-tus past participle suffix
SYNONYMS FOR abrupt
ANTONYMS FOR abrupt
1, 3
gradual.
OTHER WORDS FROM abrupt
ab·rupt·ly, adverb ab·rupt·ness, noun un·ab·rupt·ly, adverbWords nearby abrupt
Example sentences from the Web for abruptly
British Dictionary definitions for abruptly
abrupt
/ (əˈbrʌpt) /
adjective
sudden; unexpected
brusque or brief in speech, manner, etc; curt
(of a style of writing or speaking) making sharp transitions from one subject to another; disconnected
precipitous; steep
botany
shaped as though a part has been cut off; truncate
geology
(of strata) cropping out suddenly
Derived forms of abrupt
abruptly, adverb abruptness, nounWord Origin for abrupt
C16: from Latin
abruptus broken off, from
ab-
1 +
rumpere to break