Definition of rude adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

rude

adjective

/ruːd/

(comparative ruder, superlative rudest)

having or showing a lack of respect for other people and their feelings synonym impolite
- a rude comment/remark
- He started swearing and using rude words.
- There’s no need to be rude!
- I find her rude and arrogant.
- a rude waiter
- I don’t wish to be rude, but I have another appointment in five minutes.
- I don't mean to sound rude, but I have no idea what you're talking about.
- rude to somebody The man was downright rude to us.
- Why are you so rude to your mother?
- rude about something She was very rude about my driving.
- rude to somebody about something He's always rude to me about my singing.
- rude to do something It's rude to speak when you're eating.
- rude of somebody to do something How rude of me not to offer you something to drink!
Synonyms rude
rudecheeky ▪ insolent ▪ disrespectful ▪ impolite ▪ impertinent ▪ discourteousThese are all words for people showing a lack of respect for other people.
rude having or showing a lack of respect for other people and their feelings:
Why are you so rude to your mother?
It’s rude to speak when you’re eating.
cheeky (British English, informal) (especially of children) rude in a funny or an annoying way:
You cheeky monkey!
a cheeky grin
insolent (rather formal) very rude, especially to somebody who is older or more important Insolent is used especially to talk about the behaviour of children towards adults.disrespectful (rather formal) showing a lack of respect for somebody/something:
Some people said he had been disrespectful to the president in his last speech.
impolite (rather formal) not behaving in a pleasant way that follows the rules of society:
Some people think it is impolite to ask someone’s age.
Impolite is often used in the phrases It seemed impolite and It would be impolite. impertinent (rather formal) not showing respect for somebody who is older or more important Impertinent is often used by people such as parents and teachers when they are telling children that they are angry with them for being rude: Don’t be impertinent! discourteous (formal) having bad manners and not showing respect:
He didn’t wish to appear discourteous.
Patterns
- rude/cheeky/disrespectful/impolite/discourteous to somebody
- rude/impolite/impertinent to do something
Extra Examples
- He wasn't just impolite—he was downright rude.
- He's very rude about her cooking.
- I hope you won't think me rude if I leave early.
Topics Personal qualitiesa2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- appear
- be
- feel
- …
adverb
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
preposition
- about
- to
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(especially British English)
(North American English usually crude)
connected with sex or the body in a way that people find offensive or embarrassing
- a rude gesture
- Someone made a rude noise.
- The joke is too rude to repeat.
[only before noun] (formal) sudden, unpleasant and unexpected
- Those expecting good news will get a rude shock.
- If the players think they can win this match easily, they are in for a rude awakening.
(literary) made in a simple, basic way synonym primitive
- rude shacks

Word OriginMiddle English (in sense (4), also ‘uncultured’): from Old French, from Latin rudis ‘unwrought’ (referring to handicraft), figuratively ‘uncultivated’; related to rudus ‘broken stone’.

Idioms

in rude health

(British English, old-fashioned) looking or feeling very healthy

See rude in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee rude in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

Check pronunciation: rude

Other results

All matches

in rude health

Idioms

in rude health

Nearby words

trait

noun

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