suddenly meet

USAGE SUMMARY

'suddenly meet' is not a correct and usable phrase in written English.
A more correct phrase would be 'suddenly meet up'. You can use this phrase when you want to emphasize that two people or things have come into contact with each other quickly or unexpectedly. For example, "We had never expected to suddenly meet up like that!".

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The whole time I was half-expecting you to suddenly meet us at Camera 3 and whisper that, of course, this wasn't real, this wasn't you.

The Washington Post

It seems fanciful to imagine Britons who spent two weeks glued to the TV will, like Stakhanovites, suddenly meet higher norms in car production, healthcare and financial arbitrage.

The Guardian - Opinion

Palestinians in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank could suddenly meet again after 19 years apart, although the million or so refugees outside were now cut off from them.

The Economist

People can brew thoughts in their heads all year, make a zine, share those thoughts -- and suddenly meet folks who are excited to read it, hang out, etc.

Huffington Post

VAJP stands for "Visual Art Jam Performance," and, true to its meaning, VAJP is an experimental series in which dance and choreography suddenly meet the graphic animations of Lumpens.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Rather than obstinacy, we were suddenly met with a guarded kind of openness.

The Guardian - Opinion

I was going from the rep system to suddenly meeting this West End leading man.

The Guardian

Two months later these officers suddenly met the same men on their way westward presumably from Detroit.

Cornell University

But even if all NATO members suddenly met the guideline, no additional money would end up in the U.S. Treasury.

The Washington Post

Yet drive a few miles out of any of these cities, and the 21st century suddenly meets the 19th, complete with wooden barns and horse-drawn carts.

The Economist

We had just been watching all these incredible stories about this multicultural global movement, only to be suddenly met with an all white panel.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to express the action of encountering someone unexpectedly, think about using alternatives like "unexpectedly cross paths" or "run into unexpectedly" for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "suddenly meet" without a preposition (like "up"). This construction is less natural and can sound awkward to native English speakers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "suddenly meet" functions as an adverb-verb combination, attempting to describe the act of encountering someone or something unexpectedly. As noted by Ludwig AI, the bare construction lacks grammatical correctness in standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "suddenly meet" is an attempt to convey an unexpected encounter. However, it's not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Ludwig AI recommends using "suddenly meet up" or alternatives like "unexpectedly cross paths" for clearer and more idiomatic communication. While the phrase appears across various contexts, its frequency is low, and writers should opt for better alternatives for enhanced clarity and grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meet abruptly

Replaces the adverb "suddenly" with "abruptly", keeping the sense of immediacy.

encounter unexpectedly

Replaces "meet" with "encounter" and "suddenly" with "unexpectedly", emphasizing the surprise of the meeting.

unexpectedly cross paths

Uses "cross paths" instead of "meet", adding a sense of chance and destiny to the encounter.

have a chance encounter

Emphasizes the randomness and lack of planning in the meeting.

stumble upon unexpectedly

Suggests a more accidental and casual meeting.

run into unexpectedly

Similar to stumble upon, but implies a slightly more direct encounter.

meet without warning

Highlights the lack of anticipation before the meeting.

meet out of the blue

Uses an idiom to express the unexpected nature of the meeting.

meet in a flash

Conveys the speed and suddenness of the encounter using a more figurative expression.

unexpectedly convene

More formal than the original, implying a planned but surprising coming together.

FAQs

Is "suddenly meet" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "suddenly meet" isn't considered standard English. Using "suddenly meet up" or alternative phrasings is more appropriate.

What's a better way to say "suddenly meet"?

Consider using alternatives like ""unexpectedly cross paths"", ""run into unexpectedly"", or "suddenly meet up" for clearer communication.

How can I use "suddenly meet up" in a sentence?

Example: "We didn't plan it, but we "suddenly met up" at the conference."

What's the difference between "suddenly meet" and "suddenly meet up"?

"Suddenly meet" is less common and can sound unnatural. "Suddenly meet up" is more idiomatic and widely accepted in everyday English.