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all of a sudden

all of a sud·den
A a

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [awl uhv, ov ey suhd-n]
    • /ɔl ʌv, ɒv eɪ ˈsʌd n/
    • /ɔːl əv ə ˈsʌdn/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [awl uhv, ov ey suhd-n]
    • /ɔl ʌv, ɒv eɪ ˈsʌd n/

Definitions of all of a sudden words

  • phrase all of a sudden If something happens all of a sudden, it happens quickly and unexpectedly. 3
  • noun all of a sudden without warning; unexpectedly 3
  • noun all of a sudden suddenly; unexpectedly 3
  • adjective all of a sudden happening, coming, made, or done quickly, without warning, or unexpectedly: a sudden attack. 1
  • adjective all of a sudden occurring without transition from the previous form, state, etc.; abrupt: a sudden turn. 1
  • adjective all of a sudden impetuous; rash. 1
See all 13 definitions of all of a sudden

Information block about the term

Origin of all of a sudden

First appearance:

before 1250
One of the 11% oldest English words
1250-1300; Middle English sodain (adj. and adv.) < Middle French < Latin subitāneus going or coming stealthily, equivalent to subit(us) sudden, taking by surprise (see subito) + -āneus composite adj. suffix, equivalent to -ān(us) -an + -eus -eous

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for All of a sudden

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Full grammatical hierarchy of All of a sudden

all of a sudden popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 95% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

all of a sudden usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for all of a sudden

adv all of a sudden

  • quickly — with speed; rapidly; very soon.
  • swiftly — moving or capable of moving with great speed or velocity; fleet; rapid: a swift ship.
  • abruptly — sudden or unexpected: an abrupt departure.
  • short — having little length; not long.
  • aback — towards the back; backwards
All 15 Synonyms of all of a sudden

Antonyms for all of a sudden

adv all of a sudden

  • over-expect — to look forward to; regard as likely to happen; anticipate the occurrence or the coming of: I expect to read it. I expect him later. She expects that they will come.
  • slowly — in a slow manner; at a slow speed: Sauté the peppers slowly. I drove slowly back home.
All 2 Antonyms of all of a sudden

See also

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