suddenly

From Middle English sodeynly; equivalent to sudden +‎ -ly.

• IPA^(key): /ˈsʌdn̩li/

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suddenly (comparative more suddenly, superlative most suddenly)

1. Happening quickly and with little or no warning; in a sudden manner.

   Suddenly, the heavens opened and we all got drenched.

   • 2014 October 21, Oliver Brown, “Oscar Pistorius jailed for five years – sport afforded no protection against his tragic fallibilities: Bladerunner's punishment for killing Reeva Steenkamp is but a frippery when set against the burden that her bereft parents, June and Barry, must carry [print version: No room for sentimentality in this tragedy, 13 September 2014, p. S22]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Sport)‎:

     But ever since the concept of "hamartia" recurred through Aristotle's Poetics, in an attempt to describe man's ingrained iniquity, our impulse has been to identify a telling defect in those brought suddenly and dramatically low.

• all of a sudden
• without warning

• unsuddenly

• sudden