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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Exceptional: Definition, Usage & Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：outstanding (exceptional)

exceptional 🔊

/ɪkˈsɛpʃənl/

adj.

Describing someone or something that is unusually good, far above the average standard.

Exceptional achievement illustrated by a student winning a gold trophy.

outstanding 🔊

➕

/aʊtˈstændɪŋ/

adj.

Refers to something that is extraordinarily good or superior to the average standard.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'exceptio' (exception) + '-al', meaning 'pertaining to an exception'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'exception-al' – it stands out as an exception, being extraordinary or unusual.

📖 Example

His performance in the science fair was exceptional, winning him first prize against much older students. 🔊 His science fair performance was outstanding, earning him first prize.

🔗 Collocations

exceptional performance – outstanding achievement

exceptional quality – superior standard

exceptional skill – remarkable ability

🔄 Synonyms

outstanding (adj.) – extremely good or impressive

excellent (adj.) – of the highest quality

superb (adj.) – excellent in every way

🚫 Antonyms

average (adj.) – typical or ordinary

mediocre (adj.) – of only moderate quality

🌱 Derivatives

exceptionally (adv.) – in an exceptional manner

exception (n.) – something that is not included in a general rule

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'exceptio' (a taking out), via Old French. In modern English, it is frequently used in business and academic contexts to denote outstanding quality or rarity.

Meaning 2：unusual (exceptional)

exceptional 🔊

/ɪkˈsɛpʃənl/

adj.

Describing something that is not typical or part of the standard situation; an unusual case.

unusual 🔊

➕

/ʌnˈjuːʒuəl/

adj.

Refers to something that deviates from the norm or is not common in a standard situation.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The weather has been exceptionally warm for October, which is quite an exceptional occurrence. 🔊 The weather in October has been unusually warm, a rare event.

🔗 Collocations

exceptional circumstance – unusual situation

exceptional case – atypical instance

exceptional event – rare occurrence

🔄 Synonyms

unusual (adj.) – not common or ordinary

atypical (adj.) – not representative of a type

rare (adj.) – not occurring often

🚫 Antonyms

typical (adj.) – having the distinctive qualities of a type

normal (adj.) – conforming to a standard

🌱 Derivatives

exceptionally (adv.) – in an exceptional manner

exception (n.) – something that is not included in a general rule