ENGLISH
REFERENCE

extreme

n. countable
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ɛkˈstɹim// UK //ɛkstɹˈiːm// ex·treme Archaic General-service

n. the furthest possible point or degree of something. You use this when talking about two things that are as different as they can be, like freezing cold and boiling heat.

n. either of two things that are as different or as far apart as possible. Often used to describe contrasting behaviors, conditions, or opinions that represent the highest or lowest possible degrees.


SIMPLE

The weather here moves from one extreme to another.

CONTEXTUAL

He often swings between the extremes of working all night and sleeping all day.

COMPLEX

Political discourse in the region has increasingly moved toward the extremes, leaving little room for moderate voices to find common ground.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed into late Middle English from Old French extreme, from Latin extrēmus, the superlative of exter.

Usage

Commonly used in the plural form or in the phrase 'from one extreme to the other'.

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