English Reference
Adverb

exceptionally

adv. degree
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ɪkˈsɛpʃənəɫi/ UK /ɛksˈɛpʃənəli/ ex·cep·tion·al·ly

adv.to a very high degree or much more than usual. You use this to emphasize that someone or something is much better or more extreme than others.

adv.to an unusual or remarkable degree; used as an intensifier to indicate that a quality exceeds the normal standard. Typically modifies adjectives or other adverbs.


SIMPLE

The weather today is exceptionally warm for winter.

CONTEXTUAL

The young pianist showed an exceptionally high level of skill during her first public performance.

COMPLEX

While the entire team performed well, the lead researcher was exceptionally diligent in documenting the minor anomalies that others had overlooked during the initial trial phase.

Usage

Typically placed immediately before the adjective or adverb it modifies.

Pitfall
He plays the violin exceptional.He plays the violin exceptionally.

Learners often use the adjective form 'exceptional' when an adverb is required to modify a verb or another adjective.

Usage exceptionally high · exceptionally low · exceptionally well

It allows information to travel over long distances at high speed because the glass inside the fiber is extremely pure and its surface is engineered to be exceptionally smooth.

ScienceDaily· 17 Aug 2026

Named Spea labreae, the Ice Age spadefoot toad is an exceptionally rare find—only one other extinct Pleistocene amphibian has ever been identified in North America.

ScienceDaily· 16 Aug 2026

Common in science writing


From exceptional + -ly.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated