Meaning & use
extraordinary
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Meanings
adjectivenot comparableapproving
Far beyond what is usual, so remarkable that it surprises people.
Grammar: Before a noun or after 'be'; usually used without 'very'.
Patterns
- an extraordinary person
- be extraordinary
She showed extraordinary courage during the rescue.
It was an extraordinary coincidence.
The view from the summit is extraordinary.
adjectivecomparable
Very strange or surprising, often in a negative way.
Grammar: Can be neutral or critical.
Patterns
- an extraordinary thing to do
It was extraordinary that nobody noticed.
What an extraordinary thing to say!
His behavior was extraordinary.
adjectivebefore a nounformalbusiness
Arranged outside the normal schedule or for a special purpose.
Grammar: Formal use for meetings: an extraordinary meeting.
Patterns
- an extraordinary meeting
- extraordinary measures
The board called an extraordinary meeting.
The government took extraordinary measures.
An extraordinary session of parliament was held.
Word forms
| comparative | more extraordinary |
|---|---|
| superlative | most extraordinary |
Common combinations
- extraordinary talent
- The young pianist has extraordinary talent.
- extraordinary meeting
- An extraordinary meeting was called to vote.
- extraordinary measures
- Extraordinary measures were taken during the crisis.
- quite extraordinary
- The speed of recovery was quite extraordinary.
- nothing extraordinary
- There was nothing extraordinary about the day.
- extraordinary circumstances
- They allowed it only in extraordinary circumstances.
Synonyms and how they differ
- remarkable
- Remarkable means worth noticing, and is milder than extraordinary.
- exceptional
- Exceptional stresses being an exception, usually in quality.
- amazing
- Amazing is more casual and emotional.
- phenomenal
- Phenomenal is stronger, suggesting something almost unbelievable.
Opposites
Word family
- extraordinarily adverb
- to a remarkable degree
- ordinary adjective
- normal, not special
- extraordinaire adjective
- borrowed French term placed after a noun, meaning outstanding
Commonly confused: extraordinary or extra ordinary?
extraordinary vs extra ordinary
Written as one word, extraordinary means remarkable, not 'additional ordinary'.
Practice
The board called an ___ meeting outside the usual calendar.
Choose one answer.
An extraordinary meeting is one arranged outside the normal schedule. Ordinary, regular and annual describe normal meetings.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “extraordinary”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.