əˈbɹʌpt ˌdɪskəˈnɛktəd pɹɪˈsɪpɪtəs ʃɑːp ʃɑɹp surprisingly and unceremoniously brusque in manner an abrupt reply exceedingly sudden and unexpected came to an abrupt stop an abrupt change in the weather dangerously steep an abrupt canyon the precipitous rapids of the upper river the precipitous hills of Chinese paintings a sharp drop marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions abrupt prose