Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
If you describe something or someone as extraordinary, you mean that they have some extremely good or special quality.
We've made extraordinary progress as a society in that regard...
The task requires extraordinary patience and endurance...
Rozhdestvensky is an extraordinary musician.
= exceptional, remarkable, amazing
ADJ: usu ADJ n [approval]
• extraordinarily
She's extraordinarily disciplined.
= exceptionally
ADV: ADV adj
2.
If you describe something as extraordinary, you mean that it is very unusual or surprising.
What an extraordinary thing to happen!...
His decision to hold talks is extraordinary because it could mean the real end of the war.
= remarkable, amazing
ADJ [emphasis]
• extraordinarily
Apart from the hair, he looked extraordinarily unchanged...
Extraordinarily, the favourites for the title lie at the bottom of the table.
= remarkably
ADV: ADV adj/adv, ADV with cl
3.
An extraordinary meeting is arranged specially to deal with a particular situation or problem, rather than happening regularly. (FORMAL)
...at an extraordinary meeting of the sport's ruling body...
ADJ: ADJ n