suddenly

B1
US /ˈsʌd.ən.li/
adv Freq #1099

Meanings

  1. 1
    adv

    quickly and without warning

    They stopped suddenly.

  2. 2
    adv

    happening unexpectedly

    Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my side.

  3. 3
    adv

    Happening quickly and with little or no warning; in a sudden manner.

    Suddenly, the heavens opened and we all got drenched.

  4. 4
    adv

    on impulse

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English sodenly, sodeynly, sodeinliche, sodaynlyche; equivalent to sudden + -ly.

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Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 adv · quickly and without warning abruptly
2 adv · happening unexpectedly all of a suddenof a sudden
3 adv · happening quickly and with... all of a sudden
4 adv · on impulse on the spur of the moment

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