extraordinary
Use Extraordinary in a sentence
dnˌɛr adjective
1.
beyond what is usual, ordinary, regular, or established: extraordinary costs.
2.
exceptional in character, amount, extent, degree, etc.; noteworthy; remarkable: extraordinary speed; an extraordinary man.
3.
(of an official, employee, etc.) outside of or additional to the ordinary staff; having a special, often temporary task or responsibility: minister extraordinary and plenipotentiary.
Origin:
1425–75; late Middle English extraordinarie < Latin extrāordinārius beyond what is ordinary. See extra-, ordinary
1425–75; late Middle English extraordinarie < Latin extrāordinārius beyond what is ordinary. See extra-, ordinary
Related forms
ex·traor·di·nar·i·ness, noun
un·ex·traor·di·nar·y, adjective
Synonyms
1. inordinate. 2. uncommon, singular, rare, phenomenal, special, signal.
1. inordinate. 2. uncommon, singular, rare, phenomenal, special, signal.
Antonyms
1, 2. common, usual.
1, 2. common, usual.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To extraordinary
00:10
Extraordinary
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is explicate. Does it mean:
| to make plain or clear; explain; interpret. |
| to go beyond the limits of |
Collins
World English Dictionary
extraordinary (ɪkˈstrɔːdənrɪ, -dənərɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | very unusual, remarkable, or surprising |
| 2. | not in an established manner, course, or order |
| 3. | employed for particular events or purposes |
| 4. | (usually postpositive) (of an official, etc) additional or subordinate to the usual one: a minister extraordinary |
| [C15: from Latin extraordinārius beyond what is usual; see | |
| ex'traordinarily | |
| —adv | |
| ex'traordinariness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
extraordinary
early 15c., from L. extraordinarius, from extra ordinem "out of order," especially the usual order, from extra- "out" + ordinem (nom. ordo) "order." Related: Extraordinarily.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Throughout history ordinary humans have become extraordinary by reacting to danger with unimaginable courage.
Yet this extraordinary molecule has other uses in addition to those of biochemistry.
Early in the history of our own universe, some postulate, there was a period of extraordinary expansion called inflation.
The demand for space-based solar power could be extraordinary.
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