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

"Some very strange things are happening in China!"

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As the pathologist at the scene observes: “This is a strange kind of do.”

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Scientists say the strangest detail is a prong-like bone near its nostril.

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It sheds light on a strange fact: many leading computer scientists who are working hard to develop a hugely intelligent form of AI, also seem deeply afraid of what it could one day do.

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SAN FRANCISCO—A closed national park is strange.

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Related Words

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