abruptly

Everyday

1. Suddenly and unexpectedly. tree →
2. In a short, rude or unfriendly way. tree →

In the lessons

Tells the reader that something changed or stopped with no warning: the music stopped abruptly, she left abruptly. Also how someone speaks: he answered abruptly. In science, a graph that changes abruptly has a sharp jump.

Examples

• The music stopped abruptly. tree →
• She stood up abruptly and left the room. tree →
• The road ended abruptly at a fence. tree →
• "No," he said abruptly. tree →
• The temperature dropped abruptly at night. tree →
• The line on the graph rises abruptly after the third day. tree →
• ‘I want a boy to tend my cattle,’ he said abruptly, ‘as the one I had has run away. tree →

Note

Adverb from abrupt. Synonyms: suddenly, sharply. Rude sense: curtly, shortly. Spelling: abrupt + ly.