subitement
suddenly
D’une manière très rapide et sans prévenir.
Definition & meaning
Subitement is an adverb meaning suddenly, unexpectedly, or abruptly. It describes something that happens quickly, often without warning.
- Il s’est subitement arrêté. — “He suddenly stopped.”
- La température a subitement baissé. — “The temperature suddenly dropped.”
Grammar & Word origin
Subitement is an adverb, formed from the adjective subit (“sudden”) and the adverb-forming suffix -ment. It comes from Latin subitus, meaning “sudden” or “unexpected.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- soudainement — “suddenly”; very close in meaning and often interchangeable.
- brusquement — “abruptly”; emphasizes a sharp or abrupt change.
- tout à coup — “all of a sudden”; a common phrase with a similar meaning.
- d’un coup — “all at once” or “in one go”; emphasizes that something happens in a single moment or action.
Antonyms:
- progressivement — “gradually”; describes a change that happens in stages rather than suddenly.
- graduellement — “gradually,” with emphasis on slow, incremental change.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Subitement, la lumière s'est éteinte dans la salle.adverb
Suddenly, the light went out in the room.
Tout le monde s’est mis à rire subitement sans comprendre pourquoi.adverb
Everyone suddenly started laughing without understanding why.
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