sudden
/ˈsʌdn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsʌdn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsə-dᵊn/ (ame, mw)
sudden — adjective
- suddenpositive
- more suddencomparative
- most suddensuperlative
1. describes something that happens so fast that people are caught off guard becaus
describes something that happens so fast that people are caught off guard because they did not see it coming
A sudden gust of wind blew Ilan's hat off as he crossed the street.
sudden + concrete noun (gust of wind)
When Hari arrived late, a sudden clap of thunder startled everyone.
Brooke's sudden success after years of practice inspired her whole team.
The garden suffered because of a sudden drop in temperature last night.
Obi felt a sharp pain in his knee after a sudden movement while running.
- abrupt
stronger sense of being cut short or curt; often used with endings (abrupt halt, abrupt departure)
- unexpected
broader in meaning; something can be unexpected without being fast (an unexpected gift)
- swift
focuses on speed rather than surprise; can be planned (a swift response)
文法句型
sudden + noun
用法筆記
Used mainly before a noun (a sudden change, a sudden stop). In predicative position — for example, 'The change was sudden' — the words 'unexpected' or 'abrupt' often sound more natural in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
sudden — noun
1. a happening that takes place without prior warning, mostly found in literary or
a happening that takes place without prior warning, mostly found in literary or fixed expressions such as 'the sudden'
The threat of the sudden kept the watchmen alert through the night.
the sudden — rare noun usage in literary or formal context
Poets often write of the sudden that changes a person's life in an instant.
The villagers feared the sudden after the earthquake warning was announced.
In the old tale, the hero is caught by the sudden and must act quickly.
- preparation
the state of being ready, the opposite of being caught off guard
文法句型
the sudden
用法筆記
The noun 'sudden' is rarely used in modern everyday English. Learners are most likely to encounter it in the fixed phrase 'all of a sudden' (see Idioms under the adjective entry). In other contexts, 'suddenness' or 'an unexpected event' is preferred.