of a sudden

Examples

• All

• It began to go up, and then all of a sudden we lost it.

• Why do you wanna help them all of a sudden?

  Harold and the Purple Crayon (2024)

• Things just all of a sudden become clear.

  Shawn Ryan Show

• Like all of a sudden things are not OK.

  Tim Ferriss

• Whenever we have a meeting set up, all of a sudden parents are busy.

  Academic text (2008)

• A 44-year-old man presented with a complaint of a sudden loss of vision in his right eye.

  Academic text (2006)

• Her shoe seemed enormous all of a sudden, a clown boot.

  Fiction book (1990)

• I'm about halfway down, and all of a sudden I hear Nate's voice.

• It just feels like you're on fire all of a sudden!

  The Guilt Trip (2012)

• She was fine one minute, but then all of a sudden, she started crying.

Synonyms

S

suddenly

vsof a sudden

∞ 1.0

Quickly and without warning

stresses the same unpredictability but can imply broader simultaneous effect

I

immediately

vsof a sudden

∞ 1.0

At once without waiting

adds the sense of being unexpected rather than merely without delay

A

all of a sudden

vsof a sudden

• Informal

737 2.7

Very quickly and without warning

is the neutral label for sudden events without extra emphasis

A

at once

vsof a sudden

237 1.0

Immediately without delay

emphasises unexpectedness and suddenness rather than prompt timing alone

J

just like that

vsof a sudden

• Informal

199 4.2

Happens suddenly without warning or effort

is the straightforward idea of suddenness without casual tone

O

out of nowhere

vsof a sudden

194 4.2

Happening suddenly without any warning

expresses suddenness but not the sense of invisible origin

O

out of the blue

vsof a sudden

• Informal

111 3.4

Something happens suddenly and without warning

is the same sudden idea but without the idiomatic surprise tone

A

abruptly

vsof a sudden

108 3.3

In a sudden way that gives no warning

is similar but can feel less formal and less severe

F

from nowhere

vsof a sudden

33 4.1

Suddenly and without any warning

is the general sudden occurrence, not focusing on mysterious origin

I

in a flash

vsof a sudden

• Informal

32 2.5

Very quickly in a single moment

is similar but emphasises happening all at once rather than speed only

O

out of thin air

vsof a sudden

28 5.8

Suddenly with no clear reason, like magic

means sudden and unexpected but without the magical image

A

all at once

vsof a sudden

25 3.0

Happening suddenly and without warning

focuses on suddenness without stressing simultaneous parts specifically

I

in the blink of an eye

vsof a sudden

• Informal

24 3.3

Very quickly, in almost no time

covers sudden events generally without the instant visual image

P

presto

vsof a sudden

• Informal

20 7.8

Said when something happens suddenly, as if by magic

is plain suddenness without theatrical or playful flair

O

one fell swoop

vsof a sudden

14 7.6

A single sudden action that happens all at once

is about sudden change generally, not only a single act

I

in a snap

vsof a sudden

• Informal

2 3.0

It happens very quickly with little effort

focuses on unexpected, complete occurrence rather than ease or effort

I

in the wink of an eye

vsof a sudden

• Informal

1 3.5

Very quickly, in an instant

is broader and can describe suddenness without that tiny time image

Antonyms

G

gradually

228 1.9

Slowly and steadily over time

How Sudden

instantly

310 1.0

of a sudden

• Informal

743 7.1

gradually

228 1.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology