# extra

/ˈɛkstɹə/ (US) · /ˈɛkstɹɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/extra
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. additional

adjective · CEFR A2

more than what is usual, expected, or necessary.

For teachers: denoting something that is beyond what is due, usual, or necessary; supplementary.

- If you are still hungry, there is some extra bread in the kitchen.
- The project required extra funding to cover the unforeseen costs of environmental testing and site preparation.

### 2. dramatic or over the top

adjective · CEFR B2 · Slang · Informal

behaving in a way that is too dramatic or trying too hard to get attention.

For teachers: excessive or over the top in behavior, appearance, or reaction; often used to describe someone seeking attention through drama.

- She is so extra; she wore a ball gown just to go to the grocery store.
- His reaction to the minor criticism was a bit extra, involving a three-page email and a public apology he didn't need to give.

### 3. an added item

noun · CEFR B1

something added to a basic product or service that usually costs more money.

For teachers: an item or feature added to a standard version of a product, often incurring an additional charge.

- The car comes with air conditioning, but leather seats are an extra.
- When booking the holiday package, we had to pay for several extras, including airport transfers and guided city tours.

### 4. background actor

noun · CEFR B1

a person in a movie or play who has a small, non-speaking part in the background.

For teachers: a person hired to act in a group or background scene in a film or theatrical production, typically without speaking lines.

- He worked as an extra in a big battle scene for a historical movie.
- The production required hundreds of extras to create the illusion of a crowded Victorian marketplace.

### 5. military punishment

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect · Technical

an additional task or duty given to a soldier as a punishment.

For teachers: a period of additional duty or labor assigned to military personnel as a disciplinary measure.

- He had to pull an extra over the weekend because he was late for parade.
- The sergeant assigned him three extras for failing the equipment inspection twice in one week.

Usage: Common in Singaporean and some Commonwealth military contexts.

### 6. very or especially

adverb · CEFR B1 · Informal

used to mean 'very' or 'more than usual'.

For teachers: used as an intensifier to mean to an extraordinary or exceptional degree.

- You need to be extra careful when driving in the snow.
- The chef was extra diligent about hygiene standards during the health inspection.

## Examples

- The hotel room has several extras like free snacks.
- When buying a new car, you often have to pay more for extras like heated seats or a better sound system.
- The basic subscription covers the essential services, but users must pay for various extras if they require advanced data analytics or priority support.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.