Words / A2

SUD-uh-nlee/ˈsʌdənli/

Suddenly means quickly and without warning: stop suddenly, suddenly the lights, it started suddenly. Sudden is the adjective (a sudden noise). Gradually is the opposite idea (slowly, step by step). All of a sudden is a cousin phrase. Do not write suddenly when you mean sadly.

Meaning

Quickly and without warning.

Examples

• “The lights went out suddenly in the storm.”
• “The bus stopped suddenly and we all held on.”
• “Suddenly it began to hail on the market.”

Good to know

stop suddenly / all of a sudden. Adjective: sudden. Opposite idea: gradually. Mix-up: sadly.

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