Meaning & use
extraordinarily
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Meanings
adverb
To a degree that is very unusual or much greater than normal.
Grammar: Usually modifies an adjective or another adverb: extraordinarily beautiful, extraordinarily well.
Patterns
- extraordinarily + adjective
- extraordinarily + adverb
- extraordinarily good/bad/high/low
The mountain views were extraordinarily beautiful at sunrise.
She handled the difficult situation extraordinarily well.
The team performed extraordinarily well under pressure.
adverb
In a way that is very unusual and surprising.
Grammar: Modifies a verb to show that the action is surprising or exceptional: behave extraordinarily.
Patterns
- behave/act extraordinarily
- respond extraordinarily
He behaved extraordinarily when he gave away his entire prize.
The crowd responded extraordinarily, cheering for ten minutes.
Common combinations
- extraordinarily well
- The new employee performed extraordinarily well in her first month.
- extraordinarily beautiful
- The garden was extraordinarily beautiful in spring.
- extraordinarily high
- The temperatures were extraordinarily high for October.
- extraordinarily difficult
- The exam was extraordinarily difficult, even for top students.
- extraordinarily talented
- She is an extraordinarily talented musician.
Synonyms and how they differ
- remarkably
- Means in a way that attracts attention; 'extraordinarily' stresses being beyond what is normal or expected.
- exceptionally
- Means to an unusual degree, often in a positive way; 'extraordinarily' can be positive or negative.
- unusually
- Simply means not usually; 'extraordinarily' suggests a much stronger, more surprising degree.
Opposites
Word family
- extraordinary adjective
- Very unusual or remarkable; much greater than normal.
- extraordinariness noun
- The quality of being very unusual or remarkable.
- ordinary adjective
- Normal or usual; not special or surprising.
Commonly confused: extraordinarily or extraordinary?
extraordinarily vs extraordinary
This is the adjective; use it before a noun or after a linking verb, as in 'an extraordinary result'. The adverb 'extraordinarily' modifies adjectives, adverbs, or verbs.
Practice
The weather was ________ hot for early spring.
Choose one answer.
'Extraordinarily' is the adverb that modifies the adjective 'hot'. 'Extraordinary' is an adjective and would need a noun, as in 'extraordinary heat'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “extraordinarily”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.