exceptionally

American

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

adverb

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.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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.

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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.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, Kelley said Gayson, Fisher and Green were "exceptionally professional and highly respected members" of the navy.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

Because the specimen is so exceptionally preserved, scientists were able to examine features that had never been documented in such detail.

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

The Swiss Bankers Association told AFP that Hong Kong had been directly benefiting from exceptionally strong asset growth in China.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

Exhibit three: even if a baby is conceived, wild pandas will typically produce just one cub every two years—an exceptionally slow method of repopulating.

From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh

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