abruptly
adverb
abrupt·ly
ə-ˈbrəp(t)-lē 
: in an abrupt manner : in a sudden and unexpected way
He left abruptly.
The car swerved abruptly onto the exit ramp.
Her career as a psychologist ended abruptly several years ago when a hacker broke into some of her private client files and made them public …—
Michael Logan
Michael LoganThe small, rocky Anacapa Island [California] has steep cliffs which rise abruptly from the ocean on almost every side …—David J. Rutherford
David J. RutherfordExamples of abruptly in a Sentence
the car in front stopped abruptly, and we almost hit it
Recent Examples on the Web
The family that ran Camp Mystic fought for months to reopen it before abruptly shifting course.
—Toni Odejimi, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
The company abruptly shut down on Saturday after talks for a government bailout fell apart, stranding passengers and leaving 17,000 people out of jobs.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 3 May 2026
The account changed abruptly the day after Russia’s April 2023 missile attack on Slovyansk, in eastern Ukraine.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
Chicago Mayor Harold Washington abruptly adjourned his first City Council meeting.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for abruptly
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Toni Odejimi, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
The company abruptly shut down on Saturday after talks for a government bailout fell apart, stranding passengers and leaving 17,000 people out of jobs.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 3 May 2026
The account changed abruptly the day after Russia’s April 2023 missile attack on Slovyansk, in eastern Ukraine.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
Chicago Mayor Harold Washington abruptly adjourned his first City Council meeting.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for abruptly
Cite this Entry
“Abruptly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abruptly. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
