exceptionally

exceptionally — adverb

1. at a level far above what is ordinary or expected; for example, an exceptionally

1.adverbB1
Definition

at a level far above what is ordinary or expected; for example, an exceptionally tall building is much taller than most other buildings around it

Example

Theo found the exam exceptionally difficult, even though he had studied for weeks.

collocation: exceptionally + adjective (difficult)

Aiko's piano performance was exceptionally moving and drew tears from several listeners.

Common collocations
  • exceptionally + adjective (good, bad, difficult, talented, hot, cold, generous)
  • exceptionally + adverb (well, badly, quickly, slowly, carefully)
Synonyms
  • extremely

    the most direct synonym; slightly less formal and more common in everyday speech

  • remarkably

    emphasises that the quality is surprising or noteworthy, not just high

  • incredibly

    more informal and conveys a tone of amazement

  • outstandingly

    used almost exclusively with positive qualities; carries a stronger compliment

Antonyms
  • ordinarily

    describes something within the normal range, not standing out

  • unremarkably

    describes something that does not attract attention for any special quality

Grammar Patterns

exceptionally + adjective

exceptionally + adverb

Usage Note

Cannot be used alone to modify a verb directly. Use before an adjective (exceptionally fast) or before another adverb (exceptionally well). An unmodified usage such as 'They behaved exceptionally' sounds old-fashioned or incomplete in modern English.

Common Mistakes

The food tastes exceptionally.
The food tastes exceptionally good.
exceptionally needs an adjective or adverb after it and cannot stand alone as a sentence adverb.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words intensify a quality, but they differ in register and connotation. Extremely is the neutral, all-purpose intensifier — it simply raises the level without adding emotion. Remarkably adds a layer of surprise: something is not just high but worth noticing (e.g., 'She played remarkably well' suggests the speaker was impressed by the contrast with expectation). Incredibly leans informal and dramatic — it is common in casual conversation but less suited to academic writing. Outstandingly is restricted to positive qualities and carries a strong compliment; you would say 'outstandingly generous' but not 'outstandingly boring'. For most everyday contexts, exceptionally and extremely are interchangeable, but exceptionally implies the quality is rare or unusual, not just high.

extremely ↗remarkably ↗incredibly ↗outstandingly

Common collocations

Nouns

  • exceptionally high quality
  • exceptionally low temperature
  • exceptionally strong winds

Adverbs

  • exceptionally well
  • exceptionally carefully
  • exceptionally quickly

Phrases

  • exceptionally good value
  • exceptionally poor condition

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From the Latin noun exceptio (an exception or exclusion), which developed into the Late Latin adjective exceptionalis (forming an exception). This passed into French as exceptionnel, and then into Middle English as exceptional. The suffix -ly was added to form the adverb. The meaning shifted over time from 'in a way that is an exception to the rule' (neutral or negative) to 'in a remarkably good or unusually strong way' (positive and intensifying) during the 19th century.