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Synonyms

extremely

American  
[ik-streem-lee] / ɪkˈstrim li /

adverb

  1. in an extreme degree; exceedingly.

    extremely cold.
extremely British  
/ ɪkˈstriːmlɪ /

adverb

  1. to the extreme; exceedingly

  2. (intensifier)

    I behaved extremely badly
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does extremely mean? Extremely means to a very great degree—exceedingly. Instead of saying I’m very very tired, you could say I’m extremely tired. Extremely is the adverb form of the adjective extreme, which means of the highest degree or intensity. Extremely is almost always used to modify (describe) adjectives and almost never verbs. It emphasizes or intensifies the meaning of the adjective and indicates that its level is far beyond the ordinary.Example: At some times during the winter, it gets so extremely cold here that it’s dangerous to go outside for more than a minute.

Etymology

Origin of extremely

First recorded in 1525–35; extreme + -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Extinction was projected only in hypothetical scenarios where very low juvenile survival occurred, with around 20% failing to reach adulthood, combined with extremely poor reproduction limited to a maximum of one chick per pair.

From Science Daily

"It's devastating, extremely stressful, and has turned what should have been a fresh start into an ongoing nightmare."

From BBC

"We cannot begin to put into words how sad we are to have lost Khaleed. He was an extremely loved son, brother, uncle, boyfriend and friend," the family added.

From BBC

Mette-Marit is also extremely unwell with pulmonary fibrosis and her doctors are preparing to put her on a list for a lung transplant.

From BBC

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile, and there’s no telling whether the reserve gamble will end up being a net gain for taxpayers.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.