unusually

unusually — adverb

1. used before an adjective or adverb to say that a quality is present more strongl

1.adverbB2
Definition

used before an adjective or adverb to say that a quality is present more strongly than what most people would consider normal or typical.

Example

The winter in Sapporo was unusually cold this year, with temperatures dropping below minus ten.

unusually + adjective (cold)

Naoko seemed unusually quiet at dinner, which worried her roommate Sofia.

Common collocations
  • unusually + adjective describing size, temperature, or degree (e.g., unusually tall, unusually hot, unusually hard)
  • unusually + adverb of manner or degree (e.g., unusually well, unusually quickly)
Synonyms
  • exceptionally

    very similar in meaning; slightly more formal in tone

  • remarkably

    emphasises that the quality is striking or worthy of attention

  • extraordinarily

    stronger degree; less common in everyday speech

Antonyms
  • typically

    describes what is usual or expected rather than remarkable

  • normally

    indicates the standard or expected degree of a quality

Grammar Patterns

unusually + adjective

unusually + adverb

Usage Note

Always placed directly before the adjective or adverb it modifies — for example, unusually tall, not tall unusually. Cannot modify a noun without an adjective (*an unusually car).

Common Mistakes

This is an unusually car.
This is an unusually fast car.
unusually must be followed by an adjective or another adverb, not a noun.
She spoke unusually.
She spoke unusually quietly.
when used as an intensifier, unusually needs an adjective or adverb to modify.

2. used to describe a behaviour, situation, or condition that is different from wha

2.adverbB2
Definition

used to describe a behaviour, situation, or condition that is different from what you would normally expect from a particular person or thing.

Example

Christopher, who is always on time, was unusually late for the Monday meeting.

unusually + adjective describing behaviour (late)

Élise, normally a cheerful person, was unusually quiet and distant all afternoon.

Common collocations
  • unusually + adjective describing behaviour or state (e.g., unusually quiet, unusually late, unusually generous, unusually empty)
  • often used with a phrase showing contrast: unusually … for someone, unusually … given that …
Synonyms
  • uncharacteristically

    directly expresses a behaviour that is not typical of someone; the closest synonym

  • atypically

    less common in everyday speech; more formal and technical

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

unusually + adjective

Usage Note

Often appears in a sentence that first states or implies the normal behaviour of the person or thing, creating a clear contrast — for example, by including a phrase like 'for him' or 'which is unusual for her', or by describing the usual situation first.

Common Mistakes

He was unusually happy' (without context).
He was unusually happy today, considering he is normally quite serious.
without stating or implying what is normal for the person, the sentence may be read as sense 1 (very happy) rather than sense 2 (uncharacteristically happy).

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words intensify an adjective, but they differ in tone and emphasis. Unusually is the most neutral; it simply says a quality is greater than normal, without strong emotion. Exceptionally is slightly more formal and often carries a positive tone ('exceptionally talented'). Remarkably draws attention to how striking or surprising the quality is, often with mild admiration. Extraordinarily is the strongest of the four, suggesting something far outside the normal range and therefore worthy of special notice. In everyday conversation, unusually and remarkably are the most common choices; exceptionally and extraordinarily tend to appear in more formal or written contexts. For example: 'The tea was unusually sweet' (factual observation) versus 'The tea was extraordinarily sweet' (emphasising surprise or intensity).

unusually ↗exceptionally ↗remarkably ↗extraordinarily ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • unusually + adjective
  • unusually + adverb
  • not unusually
  • unusually for someone

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed by adding the adverb suffix -ly to the adjective unusual, which itself combines the negative prefix un- with usual (from Old French usuel, meaning 'customary or in common use', ultimately from Latin usus, meaning 'use, practice, or habit').