sudden
sudden Lexical Profile
sudden Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Occurring, happening, or done quickly and unexpectedly, without warning.
"A sudden change in the weather forced the hikers to seek shelter immediately."
Marked by haste, rashness, or lack of due deliberation.
"They regretted making such a sudden decision to sell the family business."
• noun
An unexpected occurrence or abrupt event (now used almost exclusively in the phrase 'all of a sudden').
"All of a sudden, the lights flickered and went out across the entire neighborhood."
Word Nuance & Usage
In standard modern English, the phrase 'all of a sudden' is the established idiomatic form; the variant 'all of the sudden' is common in informal speech but is generally considered nonstandard in formal writing.
• Rhymes for sudden
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 14th century from Anglo-French 'sodein' and Old French 'sodain', ultimately derived from Latin 'subitaneus', meaning 'sudden', from 'subitus' ('unexpected'), the past participle of 'subire' ('to come or go stealthily').