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

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.

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Vocabulary lists containing exceptionally

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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.

“We accomplished this by driving consumer-inspired innovation, growing brand love and executing exceptionally well as a team,” Hsu said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

If the Haitian nationals ultimately prevail, reversing their deportation would be exceptionally difficult to do.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026

One tanker left from New York harbor to Europe this month, an exceptionally rare occurrence, according to Denton Cinquegrana, chief oil analyst at OPIS, which is owned by Dow Jones publisher Barron’s.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

As it happens, both L.A. and the Bay Area had an exceptionally busy March in terms of local and nationwide events.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

“I thought the same thing, Reshi. Being, of course, an exceptionally clever student.”

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

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