abrupt
adj. B2 Upper Intermediate US //əˈbɹəpt// UK //ɐbɹˈʌpt// abrupt
adj. sudden and unexpected. You use this word when something happens quickly without warning or preparation.
adj. sudden and unexpected; marked by a sharp change in direction, tone, or behavior. Often implies a lack of courtesy or smoothness.
The meeting ended with an abrupt silence.
His abrupt resignation surprised the entire team because he had never mentioned leaving.
The narrative suffers from an abrupt shift in tone, moving from gentle humor to stark tragedy without any transitional passage.
First attested in 1583. Borrowed from Latin abruptus (“broken off”), perfect passive participle of abrumpō (“break off”), formed from ab (“from, away from”) + rumpō (“to break”).