sudden
(adjective)
LISTEN
![](https://daily.wordreference.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sudden.jpg)
A sudden explosion
Sudden means ‘happening quickly or unexpectedly.’
- The car made a sudden stop to avoid an accident.
- The sudden attack by the rebels surprised the army.
- Greg's sudden change of mood shocked his friends.
Common uses
all of a sudden: without warning. Example: “All of a sudden, it began to rain.”
Related words
suddenly: unexpectedly. Example: “Suddenly, the cat ran after the mouse.”
In pop culture
Enjoy this music video by KT Tunstall singing “Suddenly I See.”
Was this song popular in your country?
There are other meanings of sudden.
Word of the Day is released Monday through Friday.