adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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US:/əˈbɹʌp.li/
US:/əˈbɹʌpt.li/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:AH0 B R AH1 P T L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
In an abrupt manner; without giving notice, or without the usual forms; suddenly; precipitously.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The professor stopped her lecture abruptly when she noticed someone fall off their seat.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: abruptedly
Antonyms: none provided
2
adverb
Meaning 2
quickly and without warning
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he stopped suddenly
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: suddenly, short, dead
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Latin abrumpō Latin abruptusbor. English abrupt Middle English -ly English -ly English abruptly From abrupt + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
54 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Belarusian:
ра́птам
(ráptam)
— in an abrupt manner
Bulgarian:
рязко
(rjazko)
— in an abrupt manner
Bulgarian:
внезапно
(vnezapno)
— in an abrupt manner
Bulgarian:
безцеремонно
(bezceremonno)
— in an abrupt manner
Catalan:
abruptament
— in an abrupt manner
Chinese Mandarin:
突然地
(tūrán de)
— in an abrupt manner
Chinese Mandarin:
意外地
(yìwài de)
— in an abrupt manner
Chinese Mandarin:
唐突地
(tángtū de)
— in an abrupt manner
Dutch:
abrupt
— in an abrupt manner
Dutch:
bruusk
— in an abrupt manner
Esperanto:
abrupte
— in an abrupt manner
Finnish:
äkillisesti
— in an abrupt manner
Finnish:
yhtäkkiä
— in an abrupt manner
French:
abruptement
— in an abrupt manner
French:
tout d'un coup
— in an abrupt manner
Galician:
abruptamente
— in an abrupt manner
German:
abrupt
— in an abrupt manner
German:
plötzlich
— in an abrupt manner
German:
unerwartet
— in an abrupt manner
German:
schlagartig
— in an abrupt manner
Greek:
αποτόμα
(apotóma)
— in an abrupt manner
Greek:
αιφνιδίως
(aifnidíos)
— in an abrupt manner
Occitan:
abruptament
— in an abrupt manner
Polish:
nagle
— in an abrupt manner
Polish:
raptem
— in an abrupt manner
Polish:
bezceremonialnie
— in an abrupt manner
Polish:
improwizując
— in an abrupt manner
Portuguese:
abruptamente
— in an abrupt manner
Romanian:
abrupt
— in an abrupt manner
Romanian:
deodată
— in an abrupt manner
Russian:
внеза́пно
(vnezápno)
— in an abrupt manner
Russian:
неожи́данно
(neožídanno)
— in an abrupt manner
Russian:
ре́зко
(rézko)
— in an abrupt manner
Russian:
бесцеремо́нно
(besceremónno)
— in an abrupt manner
Spanish:
abruptamente
— in an abrupt manner
Spanish:
en seco
— in an abrupt manner
Thai:
อย่างฉับพลัน
— in an abrupt manner
Catalan:
precipitadament
— precipitously
Chinese Mandarin:
陡然地
(dǒurán de)
— precipitously
Chinese Mandarin:
出乎意料地
(chūhūyìliào de)
— precipitously