1
general::
unusual
adverbs
very/most/highly unusual
• Gandhi was a most unusual politician.
extremely unusual
• We’ve not had any snow yet, which is extremely unusual.
rather/somewhat/quite/fairly unusual
• The design of the house was somewhat unusual.
phrases
nothing unusual
• There is nothing unusual about the arrangement.
something unusual
• We want to know if anyone saw something unusual last night.
anything unusual
• Did you notice anything unusual about him?
transnet.ir
3
general::
events/situations
unusual
different from what usually happens:
• We had snow in May, which is very unusual.
rare
not happening very often, or existing only in small numbers:
• Violent crimes are rare. • Hatton gathered many rare plants from all over the world.
exceptional
very unusual and happening very rarely:
• 90-day visas can be extended only in exceptional circumstances. • The presence of a jury in a civil trial is now quite exceptional.
out of the ordinary
unusual and surprising or special:
• It was a small village where nothing out of the ordinary ever seemed to happen.
freak
extremely unusual and unexpected - used about an accident, storm etc:
• A freak wave wrecked most of the seafront. • Their car was crushed by a tree in a freak accident.
unprecedented
if something is unprecedented, it has never happened before - often used about successes and achievements:
• An unprecedented number of students have received top grades. • This kind of deal is unprecedented.
unheard of
if something is unheard of, it has never happened or been done before - used especially when something seems very surprising to people at that time:
• In our small town, this kind of crime was almost unheard of. • unheard-of luxuries such as electric windows and air-conditioning
people/behaviour/methods etc
eccentric
behaving in a way that seems rather strange but not frightening:
• The house was owned by an eccentric millionaire. • eccentric behaviour
unconventional
very different from the way people usually behave, think, dress etc, often in a way that seems interesting:
• His parents had a rather unconventional lifestyle, and let their children do whatever they pleased. • His approach to business may seem unconventional, but he certainly gets results.
unorthodox
unorthodox ideas or methods are different from the usual ones, and therefore seem surprising to many people:
• He is known for his unorthodox political views. • unorthodox teaching methods
Longman-Thesaurus
4
general::
adj. VERBS appear, be, look, seem | become | consider sth It was considered unusual for a gentleman's son to study medicine. ADV. decidedly, distinctly, extremely, highly, particularly, really, very This is a highly unusual case. | by no means, hardly, not at all It's not at all unusual to feel very tired in the early months of pregnancy. | a bit, fairly, a little, pretty, quite, rather, relatively, slightly, somewhat | enough, sufficiently The arrival of a taxi was unusual enough; an unknown woman getting out of it was sensational. PREP. for It's unusual for a woman to do this job.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary