1
a
: happening or coming unexpectedly
a sudden shower
b
: changing angle or character all at once
a sudden drop in the ocean bottom
2
: marked by or manifesting abruptness or haste
a sudden departure
3
: made or brought about in a short time : prompt
suddenly
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of sudden in a Sentence
Adjective
a sudden change in temperature
Sudden fame can be difficult to deal with.
She had a sudden urge to be outside.
His death was very sudden.
a sudden turn in the road
I was surprised by her sudden decision to quit.
The director's sudden departure leaves the organization's future uncertain.
Recent Examples on the Web
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Since the intelligence agencies do not usually bother to debunk such individual bits of false propaganda, the sudden flurry of public notifications indicates the severity of the threat that U.S. spies now see in the underlying Russian plot against the election.
—The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
The reasons why election watchers may see sudden changes in Kamala Harris' or Donald Trump's standing in the most competitive states is largely influenced by two factors: how absentee ballots are processed and the population density of an area.
—Graham Kates, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024
None of us wanted people to fall in love with the look of a show for the first seven episodes and then all of a sudden have that be completely different.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sudden 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Overall, this has led to a sudden surge in inventory in both Austin and Texas in general.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Since the intelligence agencies do not usually bother to debunk such individual bits of false propaganda, the sudden flurry of public notifications indicates the severity of the threat that U.S. spies now see in the underlying Russian plot against the election.
—The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
The reasons why election watchers may see sudden changes in Kamala Harris' or Donald Trump's standing in the most competitive states is largely influenced by two factors: how absentee ballots are processed and the population density of an area.
—Graham Kates, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024
None of us wanted people to fall in love with the look of a show for the first seven episodes and then all of a sudden have that be completely different.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sudden
Articles Related to sudden
Video
'All over sudden' vs. 'All of a sudden'
Figuring it out at once
Dictionary Entries Near sudden
Cite this Entry
“Sudden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sudden. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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