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extraordinary
/ɪksˈtɹɔː(ɹ)dɪnəɹi/
In most cases, "extraordinary" is used as a compliment to describe someone or something that is amazing or impressive. When used in professional or legal contexts (like an "extraordinary meeting"), it does not mean "amazing." Instead, it means the event is special, unplanned, or happens outside of the normal schedule.
💬Casual Conversation
David just called an extraordinary meeting for 4pm. I'm losing it.
Hard pass. I'm totally burnt out and not showing up.
Meanings
Very unusual or remarkable; far beyond what is ordinary.
"She has an extraordinary talent for playing the violin."
Beyond what is usual, regular, or established; exceptional in nature.
"The council called an extraordinary meeting to discuss the crisis."
Examples
Her voice is just extraordinary, don't you think?
The results of the study were truly extraordinary.
I've never seen such an extraordinary display of courage!
Look, this is an extraordinary circumstance; just forgive him.
We need an extraordinary session to vote on this now!
It is simply extraordinary how much you've grown, honey.
That sunset was absolutely extraordinary, wasn't it?
I have an extraordinary amount of work to finish tonight.
Collocations & Compounds
extraordinary talent
An exceptional or remarkable natural ability.
extraordinary meeting
A meeting called for a specific purpose outside of the regular schedule.
extraordinary circumstances
Conditions that are very unusual and often justify a departure from normal rules.
extraordinary effort
A level of exertion far beyond what is typically expected.
extraordinary measure
An action taken that is outside the normal course of procedure to deal with a crisis.
Cultural Context
At its core, the human brain is a pattern-recognition machine designed to filter out the mundane. We evolve to ignore the predictable—the sound of a humming refrigerator or the rhythmic ticking of a clock—a process known as habituation. However, our psyche possesses an insatiable hunger for the extraordinary, those rare anomalies that break the pattern and force us into a state of heightened awareness.
This psychological drive is what fuels our obsession with 'prodigies' and 'geniuses.' When we encounter someone with an extraordinary talent, such as a child playing Rachmaninoff or a mathematician solving a century-old paradox, we aren't just admiring their skill; we are experiencing a cognitive jolt. The extraordinary acts as a mirror, reflecting the untapped potential of the human species and challenging our own perceived limitations.
Beyond individual achievement, this craving manifests in our love for the 'sublime' in art and nature. Whether it is the terrifying scale of a mountain range or the intricate complexity of a nebula, these experiences are extraordinary because they overwhelm our sensory processing. They push us toward what philosophers call 'awe,' an emotion that diminishes the ego and makes us feel part of something vastly larger than ourselves.
Interestingly, there is a paradox in how we perceive the exceptional. While we celebrate the extraordinary, we often romanticize it as something innate—something one is born with—rather than earned. This narrative serves as a psychological defense mechanism; by labeling a feat as 'extraordinary,' we excuse ourselves from the grueling discipline required to achieve it. Yet, history shows that most extraordinary achievements are actually the result of ordinary people refusing to stop when things became difficult.
Ultimately, the pursuit of the extraordinary is what drives human progress. From the first explorers crossing uncharted oceans to the scientists splitting the atom, the refusal to accept the 'ordinary' as the ceiling of possibility is the engine of civilization. We are a species defined by our desire to step beyond the boundary of the usual and touch the remarkable.