Oxford Dictionary English

    abrupt

    adjective
    adjective
    BrE BrE//əˈbrʌpt//
    ; NAmE NAmE//əˈbrʌpt//
    Describing unpleasant traits
    Add to my wordlist
    jump to other results
  1. 1sudden and unexpected, often in an unpleasant way an abrupt change/halt/departure The accident brought his career to an abrupt end.
  2. 2speaking or acting in a way that seems unfriendly and rude; not taking time to say more than is necessary synonym brusque, curt an abrupt manner She was very abrupt with me in our meeting. See related entries: Describing unpleasant traits
    3.  Word Originlate 16th cent.: from Latin abruptus ‘broken off, steep’, past participle of abrumpere, from ab- ‘away, from’ + rumpere ‘break’.Extra examples He indicated Isabel with an abrupt movement of his head. His abrupt departure made me think I had done something to upset him. The abrupt change of subject disconcerted her.
See abrupt in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishSee abrupt in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: abrupt
oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com