exceptionally

American  

[ik-sep-shuh-nuh-lee] / ɪkˈsɛp ʃə nə li /

adverb

1. in a way or to a degree that is unusual or extraordinary; extremely.

   The combination of an exceptionally high tide and a devastating storm surge has wreaked havoc on coastal communities.

   In the photo, a young woman sits on the floor of a small shanty in an exceptionally impoverished neighborhood.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preexceptionally
  adverb
• nonexceptionally
  adverb
• superexceptionally
  adverb
• quasi-exceptionally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of exceptionally

exceptional ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

A walk in the park is nice, but it’s exceptionally nice on a beautiful spring day when the weather is perfect, flowers are blooming, and birds are singing. Think of the word exceptionally as a magic wand that upgrades adjectives from ordinary to extraordinary. For example, a good day could just be a pleasant day when nothing bad happens, but an exceptionally good day would be closer to having the best day of your life. While exceptionally usually carries a positive meaning, it can also be used to describe something that is particularly unusual, like an exceptionally large shrimp.

Example Sentences

Anthropic says Fable 5 is exceptionally good at writing and debugging software code, answering complex research questions and analyzing images.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

The comet releases exceptionally large amounts of carbon dioxide relative to water, far exceeding the levels commonly measured in solar system comets.

From Science Daily • Jun. 4, 2026

The bank says feedback from dealers points to exceptionally strong demand for special models and core combustion-powered cars, and moderating declines in hybrid residual values, with one dealer describing the collector market as “insane.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

"During hot weather we know people want to keep cool but open waters are exceptionally dangerous as there is no way of telling what's beneath the surface."

From BBC • May 30, 2026

“She seemed well enough. She did display some interest in the gossamer-winged butterflies. I wish she had shown more interest in the carrion beetle collection, though. They are, after all, exceptionally fine specimens.”

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

Related Words

• abnormally