suddenly

suddenly — adverb

1. in a way that happens fast and without any sign that it is going to happen; used

1.adverbA2
Definition

in a way that happens fast and without any sign that it is going to happen; used to describe actions, events, or changes that take people by surprise.

Example

Suddenly, the lights went out and the room fell completely dark.

sentence-initial 'Suddenly,' to mark a dramatic, unexpected event

Hao suddenly stopped talking when he saw the principal standing at the classroom door.

subject + suddenly + verb (action stopped without warning)

Common collocations
  • suddenly stopped
  • suddenly realised
  • suddenly appeared
  • suddenly changed
  • quite / very suddenly
  • suddenly began to
Synonyms
  • abruptly

    more formal and often implies a change that seems rude or too quick; 'She ended the meeting abruptly' suggests she cut people off.

  • unexpectedly

    focuses on the surprise element; slightly less dramatic than 'suddenly', and can describe positive surprises too.

  • all of a sudden

    informal, mainly spoken; means the same thing but sounds less polished in writing.

  • out of the blue

    informal idiom; emphasises that nothing led up to the event; 'He quit his job out of the blue.'

Antonyms
  • gradually

    the opposite of fast change — something that happens slowly, step by step, over time.

  • slowly

    marks a slow pace; 'The door slowly opened' contrasts with 'The door suddenly opened.'

Grammar Patterns

Suddenly, + clause

subject + suddenly + verb

verb + suddenly

Usage Note

Can appear in three main positions with different effects: sentence-initial for dramatic contrast ('Suddenly, everything changed.'), directly before the main verb for a neutral report ('He suddenly realised his mistake.'), or at the end of a clause for emphasis on the abruptness itself ('The car stopped suddenly.'). Overusing it in a single paragraph can weaken the dramatic impact.

Common Mistakes

He sudden stopped walking.
He suddenly stopped walking.
'sudden' is an adjective; use 'suddenly' as the adverb form to modify the verb.
Suddenly I was very scared and I didn't know what to do and I called my mom.
Suddenly I felt scared, so I called my mom.
avoid stacking multiple 'and' clauses after 'Suddenly'; one main event per sentence is clearer.

Word family

  • sudden
    adjectiveA2
  • suddenness
    nounB2
  • unsudden
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

These five expressions all describe events that happen without warning, but they differ in tone and formality. 'Suddenly' is the most neutral and common — it works in writing and speech for any kind of surprise: 'The dog suddenly barked.' 'Abruptly' is more formal and suggests a sharp, often jarring change that may seem rude or too fast: 'She abruptly hung up the phone.' 'Unexpectedly' focuses on the surprise itself rather than the speed: 'He unexpectedly received a prize.' 'All of a sudden' is an informal spoken alternative to 'suddenly' — 'All of a sudden, the baby started crying' — and sounds casual in writing. 'Out of the blue' is an idiom meaning something happens with no cause or reason: 'She called me out of the blue after ten years.' Of the group, 'suddenly' is the safest choice for learners because it fits almost any context.

suddenly ↗abruptly ↗unexpectedly ↗all of a sudden ↗out of the blue

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • quite suddenly
  • very suddenly
  • rather suddenly
  • almost suddenly

Phrases

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed in late Middle English by adding the adverb suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'sudden'. 'Sudden' came into English through Anglo-French 'sodein' from the Latin adjective 'subitaneus', meaning 'sudden' or 'unexpected'. This in turn came from the Latin verb 'subire' — to go up to or approach stealthily — made up of 'sub' (under, up to) and 'ire' (to go). The original Latin picture was of something that comes up on you without being seen, like a figure approaching from behind.