Cool MateExtraordinary vs Very impressive
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Extraordinary
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
Very impressive
Top 2,000 (common)
| Extraordinary | Very impressive | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈstrɔːdnri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈstrɔːrdəneri/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈvɛri ɪmˈprɛsɪv//🇺🇸 //ˈvɛri ɪmˈprɛsɪv// |
| Meaning | very unusual or remarkable | Amazing and makes a strong positive impression. |
| Example | Her performance was nothing short of extraordinary, captivating the entire audience. | The performance was very impressive, leaving the audience in awe. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | appear, be, feel, most, really, truly | very impressive performance, very impressive result, very impressive achievement, very impressive skills, very impressive design |
| Antonyms | ordinary, common, usual | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'ordinary', thinking they are similar., Using inappropriately in very casual chats; feels too formal., Mispronouncing the word, especially the 'extra-' part. | Using 'very impressive' with nouns instead of adjectives., Confusing 'impressive' with 'impressed' - 'very impressive' describes something, not a feeling., Overusing 'very' when 'extremely' or 'really' might be better. |
| Usage notes | Use '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 'very impressive' in both written and spoken English to express admiration. It's suitable for formal and informal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Extraordinary vs Very impressive
What's the difference between Extraordinary and Very impressive?
Extraordinary: very unusual or remarkable Very impressive: Amazing and makes a strong positive impression.
Can you show an example of each?
Extraordinary: Her performance was nothing short of extraordinary, captivating the entire audience. Very impressive: The performance was very impressive, leaving the audience in awe.
Can I use Extraordinary and Very impressive interchangeably?
Not always. Extraordinary and Very impressive 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.