# abruptness

/əˈbɹəptnəs/ (US) · /ɐbɹˈʌptnəs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abruptness
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

the quality of being sudden and lacking a smooth start or end. It describes a change that happens too quickly for you to prepare.

For teachers: the quality of being sudden, sharp, or lacking a smooth transition. Often describes a change in tone, weather, or physical movement.

## Examples

- The abruptness of the ending surprised everyone.
- The sudden change in the weather was so abrupt that the hikers had no time to find shelter.
- The speaker's abruptness in cutting off the previous question left the audience feeling slightly disoriented and questioning the speaker's level of preparation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.