Abrupt

Pronunciation:əˈbrʌpt
ENZH

Quick Translations

  • 突然的
  • 意外的
  • 陡峭的

Definitions

adjective

Definition

Sudden and unexpected; often causing shock or confusion.

In ZH

突如其来的,意想不到的;通常会引起震惊或困惑。

Examples

  • The weather forecast was so wrong, the sun came out and my plans for a snowball fight ended abruptly!
  • In a shocking twist, the news anchor announced that the soup recipe had been canceled due to a shortage of carrots. Abrupt indeed!
  • When the cat jumped on the keyboard, my Zoom meeting ended abruptly, and my boss thought I was giving a dramatic presentation.

Cultural Notes

In English-speaking cultures, the term 'abrupt' can be used in both serious and lighthearted contexts. It can describe changes in situations or conversations that are unexpected, provoking a significant reaction.

adverb

Definition

In a sudden or unexpected manner; used to describe actions that happen quickly and without warning.

In ZH

以突然或意外的方式;用于描述迅速且没有警告的行为。

Examples

  • He abruptly left the party when someone mentioned pineapple on pizza – the horror!
  • The comedian abruptly changed topics, making the audience wonder what just happened – it was like driving off a cliff!
  • After my dog stole my sandwich, I abruptly changed my lunch plans to a dog-free zone.

Cultural Notes

Using 'abruptly' can often convey a comical or dramatic sense in storytelling, making it popular in humorous anecdotes.

noun

Definition

A steep or sudden change in direction or height; often used to describe geographical features or sudden shifts in topics.

In ZH

方向或高度的急剧变化;通常用于描述地理特征或话题的突然转变。

Examples

  • The mountain trail ended in an abrupt, sheer cliff, making the hikers reconsider their life choices.
  • In a meeting, the discussion took an abrupt turn when someone decided to share their conspiracy theory about pigeons.
  • The stock market experienced an abrupt drop after the pizza company announced they would only sell pineapple topping.

Cultural Notes

In geography, 'abrupt' is often used to describe features like cliffs or valleys; in conversation, it highlights surprising changes that can lead to humorous or serious outcomes.