extra
adjective
beyond or more than what is usual, expected, or necessary; additional.
extra
1 American
[ek-struh]
/ ˈɛk strə /
adjective
-
beyond or more than what is usual, expected, or necessary; additional.
an extra copy of a newspaper; an extra charge.
-
larger or better than what is usual.
an extra binding.
-
Slang.
-
extremely good.
-
over the top; extreme or excessive.
Her behavior is just so extra, so dramatic!
-
noun
-
extras
plural
-
something extra or additional.
the little amenities and extras that make life pleasant.
-
an additional expense.
-
a special edition of a newspaper, other than a regular edition.
-
something of superior quality.
-
Movies, Television. a person hired by the day to play a minor part, as a member of a mob or crowd.
-
an additional worker.
-
Cricket. Usually extras. a score or run not made from the bat, as a bye or a wide.
adverb
-
in excess of the usual or specified amount.
an extra high price.
-
beyond the ordinary degree; unusually; uncommonly.
done extra well; extra large.
extra-
2
American
extra
1
British
/ ˈɛkstrə /
adjective
noun
-
a person or thing that is additional
-
something for which an additional charge is made
the new car had many extras
-
an additional edition of a newspaper, esp to report a new development or crisis
-
films an actor or person temporarily engaged, usually for crowd scenes
-
cricket a run not scored from the bat, such as a wide, no-ball, bye, or leg bye
-
something that is better than usual in quality
adverb
extra-
2
British
prefix
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of extra1
First recorded in 1770–80; by shortening of extraordinary
Origin of extra-2
< Latin, combining form of extrā (adv. and preposition) outside (of ), without
Explanation
Something extra is more than you need or more than you usually have. It's never a bad idea to bake extra chocolate chip cookies. Sometimes extra things are good, like the extra money you made this month or the extra attention you get on your birthday. Other times, they're not so great: nobody needs extra problems or extra traffic. Extra can also be an adverb, meaning "especially" or "unusually," like when your dog behaves extra well or you plan an extra special party for your friend. Extra comes from extraordinary, from the Latin root extra ordinem, "outside normal events."
Vocabulary lists containing extra
Theater - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Theater - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Theater - High School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
The researchers found that this extra heat can keep magma relatively fluid for much longer than expected, potentially allowing it to rise rapidly and produce spectacular lava fountains.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 13, 2026
But it said it had secured extra funding for more surgeries in order to reduce the amount of people on the waiting list, resulting in additional pectus procedures in the last three years.
From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2026
The maximum amount savers can put in retirement accounts and the extra catch-up contributions available to anyone 50 and up are adjusted each year for inflation, based on formulas in the tax law.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026
Neither the first class not the extra-legroom seats include meals or snacks, unless you pay extra.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2026
Her voice is extra calm, which makes every not-calm feeling in the world explode inside my body.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
Once the paneling is clean, I then suggested that she very lightly sand the light areas on the paneling with extra- or super-fine sandpaper to just scuff up the existing clear coating.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 27, 2022
Plasmids, which consist of extra- chromosomal DNA, are also present in many species of bacteria and archaea.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022
It turns out that nonbelievers are the ones doing most of the magical thinking when it comes to extra-, intra-, and ultraterrestrial beings.
From Slate ● Oct. 18, 2021
The second stage of extra- and co-curricular reopening, scheduled for July 20-Aug.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 3, 2020
For a fistful of pickups tailored extra- specially for this nightmarish scenario, try Cyranofeed, available at rates as low as— She was like, “I’m sorry if I embarrassed you at Marty’s.”
From "Feed" by M.T. Anderson
Today’s battle features 16 stunt performers and 10 special action extras playing orcs, as well as eight stunt performers and 42 special action extras playing wild men and women.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026
What surprised me most was how resourceful and resilient people have been in meeting economic challenges, even while cutting back on spending for extras.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026
It was shot throughout Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk, including a scene with 6,000 extras in Gorleston-on-Sea.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
Then there’s the extras at the participating hotels, including daily breakfast for two and a $100 credit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
You’d be helping me out on all the little extras.
From "The Stranger" by Albert Camus
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
