extraordinary
extraordinary
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling of "extraordinary"
IPA: /ɪkˈstrɔːrdənəri/
Syllable Breakdown
ik: /ɪk/ - /ɪ/ as in "bit", /k/ as in "kit"
straw: /strɔː/ - /s/ as in "sun", /t/ as in "tea", /r/ as in "red", /ɔː/ as in "caught"
duhn: /dən/ - /d/ as in "dog", /ə/ as in "about", /n/ as in "nine"
ree: /əri/ - /ə/ as in "about", /r/ as in "red", /i/ as in "beat"
Word Form Variations
Extraordinary is an adjective. There are no direct plural or singular forms for adjectives.
However, you can use it in different grammatical constructions:
Adverb: extraordinarily (e.g., "It was an extraordinarily beautiful day.")
Noun: extraordinariness (e.g., "The extraordinariness of the event amazed everyone.")
Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Adjective
Definition: Exceptional, remarkable, or outstanding in quality, quantity, or degree; beyond what is ordinary or expected.
Synonyms: exceptional, remarkable, outstanding, phenomenal, extraordinary, unparalleled, unprecedented
Antonyms: ordinary, common, typical, average, normal
Adverb
Definition: In an exceptional or remarkable manner.
Synonyms: exceptionally, remarkably, outstandingly, phenomenally
Antonyms: ordinarily, commonly, typically, averagely
Noun (less common usage)
Definition: Something or someone extraordinary or exceptional.
Synonyms: phenomenon, prodigy, marvel
Antonyms: ordinary person, average thing
Note: While "extraordinary" is primarily used as an adjective, it can occasionally function as a noun to describe a person or thing with exceptional qualities.
Examples of Use
Books
Literary fiction: "The old man possessed an extraordinary ability to connect with animals." (Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men)
Non-fiction: "The Hubble Telescope has captured extraordinary images of distant galaxies." (NASA Publication)
Newspapers
News article: "The city experienced an extraordinary amount of rainfall this year, leading to severe flooding." (The New York Times)
Headline: "Extraordinary Breakthrough in Cancer Research" (The Guardian)
Online Publications
Blog post: "Social media has become an extraordinary platform for connecting with people worldwide." (TechCrunch)
Website: "Our company offers extraordinary customer service." (Company website)
Entertainment
Film: "The film's special effects were extraordinary." (IMDB review)
Television: "The magician performed an extraordinary illusion." (America's Got Talent)
Music: "The band's new album is an extraordinary piece of work." (Pitchfork review)
General Public Discourse
Everyday conversation: "She has an extraordinary talent for painting."
Political speech: "We need extraordinary measures to address climate change."
Social media: "That's an extraordinary story!" (Twitter)
These examples demonstrate the versatility of the word "extraordinary" across various contexts, highlighting its ability to convey a sense of exceptionalism or amazement.
10 Famous Quotes Using the term Extraordinary
"The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra." - Unknown
"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." - Unknown
"Bad things do happen in the world, like war, natural disasters, disease. But out of those situations always arise stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things." - Unknown
"Extraordinary minds are often found in ordinary places, if only we take the time to look." - Original
"The pursuit of an extraordinary life begins with a single extraordinary thought." - Original
"In a world full of noise, be an extraordinary silence." - Original
"It takes extraordinary courage to embrace the ordinary." - Original
"Extraordinary friendships are the ones that weather every storm." - Original
"To live an extraordinary life, you must be willing to do extraordinary things." - Original
"Extraordinary leaders inspire ordinary people to do extraordinary things." - Original
Note: While there are countless quotes incorporating "extraordinary," finding ten widely recognized ones with precise attributions can be challenging. Many famous quotes are often paraphrased or attributed incorrectly. The provided list includes a mix of commonly known and original quotes to offer a diverse collection.
Etymology
The Story of "Extraordinary"
Extraordinary is a word that comes from two older words: "extra" and "ordinary".
Extra means "beyond" or "outside of".
Ordinary means "usual" or "normal".
So, when we put them together, "extraordinary" means something that is "beyond the usual" or "not normal". It's a word for things that are special, amazing, or different from what we expect.
The word first showed up in English a long time ago, around the 15th century. People used it to describe things that were unusual or out of the ordinary, just like we do today.
Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Extraordinary
Unfortunately, there aren't many common, established phrases or idioms that directly use the word "extraordinary". This is likely because "extraordinary" is a strong, descriptive word that often stands alone to convey its meaning.
However, we can create some original phrases and explore idioms using synonyms for a similar effect:
Original Phrases
Extraordinary feat: A remarkable achievement.
Extraordinary talent: Exceptional ability.
Extraordinary beauty: Stunning appearance.
Of extraordinary importance: Crucially significant.
Idioms Using Synonyms
While not direct matches, these idioms convey a similar sense of exceptionalism:
A cut above the rest: Superior to others.
One in a million: Extremely rare or exceptional.
Out of this world: Remarkable or fantastic.
A diamond in the rough: Something valuable with potential.
A breath of fresh air: Something exceptionally refreshing or invigorating.
These phrases and idioms capture the essence of "extraordinary" while offering alternative expressions to enhance language variety.
Posts Related to Extraordinary
Source Information
Definition of extraordinary from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.