Extraordinary is an adjective meaning very unusual, remarkable, or beyond what is common. It denotes something that stands out due to notable qualities, often implying exceptional or surprising characteristics. In everyday use, it highlights rarity or significance, rather than mere normalcy.
"The concert achieved an extraordinary level of detail and artistry."
"Her performance received extraordinary praise from critics."
"They achieved extraordinary success after adopting a unique strategy."
"The scientist made an extraordinary discovery that challenged existing theories."
Extraordinary derives from the combination of extra- (outside, beyond) and ordinary (usual, common). The prefix extra- comes from Latin extra, meaning ‘outside’ or ‘beyond,’ itself from extra. Ordinary comes from Latin ordinary, from Latin ordinarius meaning ‘usual, regular,’ from ordo ‘order.’ The term entered Middle English through French influence, and by the 17th century it began to emphasize something beyond the ordinary in quality or degree. In modern usage, extraordinary typically signals significance beyond the norm, often carrying a sense of exceptionality or astonishment. The word’s shift reflects a move from simply ‘outside the ordinary’ to ‘exceptional or remarkable,’ aligning with evaluative judgments in discourse, science, and culture. Over time, extraordinary has traveled across registers, functioning as a descriptive adjective in formal writing and as a powerful evaluative term in journalism and literature. First known usage traces to early modern English, with attestations appearing in writings that discuss remarkable feats, unusual events, or extraordinary circumstances, gradually expanding to everyday metaphorical sense as well. Contemporary usage maintains this sense, frequently paired with adjectives indicating degree (extraordinary talent, extraordinary measures) and often employed to heighten rhetoric or persuasion.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "extraordinary" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "extraordinary" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "extraordinary"
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Break it into four syllables: ex-TRA-or-di-na-ry. Primary stress on the second syllable: /ɪkˈstrɔː.dɪˌner.i/ in US/UK variants; some speakers compress to /ˌɛkˈstrɔː.dɪˌnɛr.i/. Exact IPA: US /ˌɛk.strɔˈdɪ.nɛr.i/? Wait: standard is /ɪkˈstrɔː.dəˌner.i/ depending dialect. Monitor: the key is stress on TRA (second syllable) with a clear /ˈtrɔː/ vowel, a light, unstressed -di-, and a final -nə-ry.
Common mistakes: collapsing syllables (ex-TROR-dinary) or misplacing stress (ex-TRA-dinary). Another error is pronouncing the second syllable with too-quick a schwa or mispronouncing the final -ary as /i/ instead of /əri/. Correction: maintain 4–5 clear syllables with stress on TRA: /ɪkˈstrɔː.dɪˌner.i/; keep final -ary light and reduced to -əri in connected speech.
In US, stress on the second syllable with a rhotic /ɹ/; the /ɔː/ as in 'law' and a clear /dɪ/ before -nə-ry. In UK, non-rhotic or weak rhotics may reduce r after vowels; vowel quality is similar but with clipped final /nəri/. Australian keeps rhotic sound with slightly broader vowels; final -ary tends to be /-ənəri/ with reduced 'r' in non-rhotic settings. Overall, the core /ˈtrɔː/ vowel and the -əri suffix are common, but rhoticity and vowel length vary.
Three challenges: the multisyllabic length requiring steady breath control; the secondary stress on -TRA- and the vowel quality in /ɔː/ that differs by dialect; and the final -ary reduced to /əri/ in natural speech. Practicing with slow, deliberate articulation of /ɪkˈstrɔː.dɪ.nə.ri/ helps. Also, avoid merging -d- with -n- sounds; keep a light, separate tongue tip for /d/ and /n/.
Unique concerns include the four-syllable rhythm and the mid-stress pattern centered on TRA, plus the final -ary often reduced to -ri or -əni in casual speech. Emphasizing the second syllable and maintaining clear enunciation of the 'd' and 'n' sounds helps prevent slurring. Practice with controlled pacing and rhythm to ensure you don’t compress the word into three syllables or misplace stress.
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