uncommon
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.not happening often or not found in many places.
adj.occurring or found infrequently; not common or ordinary.
Simple“It is uncommon to see snow in this part of the country during October.”
In context“The botanist noted that while the flower was once widespread, it has become increasingly uncommon due to habitat loss and climate shifts.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.much better or greater than what is normal.
adj.remarkable or exceptional in quality, degree, or character.
Simple“The young pianist showed uncommon talent for someone her age.”
In context“The diplomat was praised for his uncommon patience during the long and difficult negotiations between the two nations.”
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
adv.used to mean 'very' or 'extremely' in some local ways of speaking.
adv.functioning as an intensifier meaning exceedingly or exceptionally. Used as a flat adverb in specific regional dialects.
Simple“The weather turned uncommon cold for a summer evening.”
In context“He was an uncommon handsome man, though his gruff manner often discouraged people from approaching him.”
UsageAs a flat adverb, it modifies an adjective directly without the '-ly' suffix.
Teacher's tipThis adverbial use is mostly found in 19th-century literature or specific rural British dialects; students should use 'uncommonly' in modern standard English.
Synonyms
From un- + common.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.