Extraordinary vs Playing Lazer Tag is awesome

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

Extraordinary

Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective

Playing Lazer Tag is awesome

InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Extraordinary
 ExtraordinaryPlaying Lazer Tag is awesome
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈstrɔːdnri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈstrɔːrdəneri/"]/🇬🇧 //ˈɔːs(ə)m//🇺🇸 //ˈɔsəm//
Meaningvery unusual or remarkablePlaying Lazer Tag is really fun.
ExampleHer performance was nothing short of extraordinary, captivating the entire audience.Playing Lazer Tag is awesome because it gets everyone moving.
RegisterNeutralInformal
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsappear, be, feel, most, really, trulyreally awesome, absolutely awesome, pretty awesome, truly awesome
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 'awesome' for something minor or trivial., Confusing 'awesome' with 'awful' due to similar sounds., Overusing 'awesome' in every context.
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 'awesome' in casual settings. It may be too strong for formal conversations.

See it in real clips

Extraordinary
Playing Lazer Tag is awesome

Frequently asked questions: Extraordinary vs Playing Lazer Tag is awesome

What's the difference between Extraordinary and Playing Lazer Tag is awesome?

Extraordinary: very unusual or remarkable Playing Lazer Tag is awesome: Playing Lazer Tag is really fun.

Which is more formal: Extraordinary and Playing Lazer Tag is awesome?

Extraordinary is the most formal of these.

Can you show an example of each?

Extraordinary: Her performance was nothing short of extraordinary, captivating the entire audience. Playing Lazer Tag is awesome: Playing Lazer Tag is awesome because it gets everyone moving.

Can I use Extraordinary and Playing Lazer Tag is awesome interchangeably?

Not always. Extraordinary and Playing Lazer Tag is awesome 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