strange

[streynj]

adjective

stranger, strangest 

1. unusual, extraordinary, or curious; odd; queer.

   a strange remark to make.

   Synonyms: anomalous, abnormal, singular, bizarre

2. estranged, alienated, etc., as a result of being out of one's natural environment.

   I felt strange as I walked through the crowded marketplace.

3. situated, belonging, or coming from outside of one's own locality; foreign.

   to move to a strange place; strange religions.

4. outside of one's previous experience; hitherto unknown; unfamiliar.

   strange faces; strange customs.

   Antonyms: familiar

5. unaccustomed to or inexperienced in; unacquainted (usually followed byto ).

   I'm strange to this part of the job.

   Antonyms: familiar

6. distant or reserved; shy.

   Synonyms: aloof
   Antonyms: familiar

adverb

1. in a strange manner.

strange

/ streɪndʒ /

adjective

1. odd, unusual, or extraordinary in appearance, effect, manner, etc; peculiar

2. not known, seen, or experienced before; unfamiliar

   a strange land

3. not easily explained

   a strange phenomenon

4. (usually foll by to) inexperienced (in) or unaccustomed (to)

   strange to a task

5. not of one's own kind, locality, etc; alien; foreign

6. shy; distant; reserved

7. it is unusual or surprising that

8. physics

   1. denoting a particular flavour of quark

   2. denoting or relating to a hypothetical form of matter composed of such quarks

      strange matter

      a strange star

adverb

1. not_standard,  in a strange manner

Other Word Forms

• strangely adverb
• unstrange adjective
• unstrangely adverb
• unstrangeness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of strange¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French estrange, from Latin extrāneus; extraneous

Word History and Origins

Origin of strange¹

C13: from Old French estrange, from Latin extrāneus foreign; see _extraneous

Synonym Study

Strange, peculiar, odd, queer refer to that which is out of the ordinary. Strange implies that the thing or its cause is unknown or unexplained; it is unfamiliar and unusual: a strange expression. That which is peculiar mystifies, or exhibits qualities not shared by others: peculiar behavior. That which is odd is irregular or unconventional, and sometimes approaches the bizarre: an odd custom. Queer sometimes adds to odd the suggestion of something abnormal and eccentric: queer in the head.

Example Sentences

Perhaps the strangest sculptures in the show are a selection of flowing beards, symbol of maturity and wisdom, which derive from the long, lavish one the great Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi sported.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“It was emotional and surreal. At first it felt so strange to be back, like we went back in time,” Romano says.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“But then I thought there’s mincemeat pie — I mean, that’s an English dessert. These people just put very strange things in their food.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Mr Harrison, who has lived at his home in Warrington for 22 years, said strange items of post began to arrive in January, addressed to somebody completely unknown to either him or his wife.

Read more on BBC

The winning quarterback, junior Michael Gonzalez, heard a strange sound while shaking hands.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• astonishing 
• bizarre 
• curious 
• different 
• extraordinary 
• fantastic 
• funny 
• new 
• odd 
• offbeat 
• outlandish 
• peculiar 
• rare 
• remarkable 
• unusual 
• weird 
• wonderful