Extraordinary vs It was amazing

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Extraordinary

Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective

It was amazing

Top 2,000 (common)
 ExtraordinaryIt was amazing
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈstrɔːdnri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈstrɔːrdəneri/"]/🇬🇧 //ɪt wəz əˈmeɪzɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ɪt wəz əˈmeɪzɪŋ//
Meaningvery unusual or remarkableIt was very good or impressive.
ExampleHer performance was nothing short of extraordinary, captivating the entire audience.The performance was simply amazing.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsappear, be, feel, most, really, trulyabsolutely amazing, quite amazing, truly amazing, simply amazing
Antonymsordinary, common, usual-
Common mistakesConfused with 'ordinary', thinking they are similar., Using inappropriately in very casual chats; feels too formal., Mispronouncing the word, especially the 'extra-' part.Using 'amazing' incorrectly in past tense contexts., Confusing 'amazing' with weaker adjectives like 'nice'., Using it in overly formal situations where a stronger adjective is preferred.
Usage notesUse 'extraordinary' to describe something very special or impressive. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but try to avoid it in everyday casual conversations.Use 'It was amazing' to express strong approval or delight. Appropriate in casual conversation, as well as in writing.

See it in real clips

Extraordinary

Frequently asked questions: Extraordinary vs It was amazing

What's the difference between Extraordinary and It was amazing?

Extraordinary: very unusual or remarkable It was amazing: It was very good or impressive.

Can you show an example of each?

Extraordinary: Her performance was nothing short of extraordinary, captivating the entire audience. It was amazing: The performance was simply amazing.

Can I use Extraordinary and It was amazing interchangeably?

Not always. Extraordinary and It was amazing are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

Related comparisons