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

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

This meant the treatment targeted an exceptionally narrow patient population.

From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026

At a press conference afterward, officials stressed that even though coastal Southern California is not expected to have an exceptionally dangerous fire season, they are doing everything they can to protect Californians.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 13, 2026

And she spends at least 18 hours a week practicing on her stenography machine—a specialized keyboard she likens to playing chords, which allows her to transcribe exceptionally fast.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026

According to Dong, that performance is exceptionally strong, exceeding the capacity of conventional DAC technologies by 10 to 50 percent.

From Science Daily • Jun. 11, 2026

Only the exceptionally bright student from the poor neighborhoods was encouraged and nurtured, like a rare orchid found growing in a patch of crabgrass.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

• abnormally