Extraordinary means far beyond what is ordinary, usual, or expected. When something is extraordinary, it stands out as remarkably different from everyday experiences. An extraordinary sunset might fill the sky with colors you've never seen before. An extraordinary performance leaves the audience amazed because the artist did something special that most people couldn't do.

A good basketball player might score fifteen points in a game, but scoring fifty points would be extraordinary. Reading well for your age is normal; reading college-level books in fourth grade would be extraordinary.

Extraordinary can describe abilities, events, objects, or even people. Marie Curie was extraordinary: she won two Nobel Prizes in different sciences, something no one else has ever done. The Great Wall of China is an extraordinary structure because of its massive size and the determination required to build it.

When you call something extraordinary, you're saying it deserves special attention or admiration because it's genuinely remarkable, not just slightly better than average. The word carries a sense of wonder and respect.