abnormally
gb/æbnˈɔɹməli/ us/æbnˈɔɹməli/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B2
property
1
outside the normal range
more or less than normal
Usage pattern:
abnormally + [adjective/adverb] (e.g., abnormally high/low/slow)
Common mistake:
Do not use for positive emphasis meaning “very”; it suggests “not normal” rather than just “a lot.”
Synonyms
unusually (more general and less clinical-sounding.)
|
atypically (often used in analytical or descriptive writing.)
Antonyms
normally (within the usual range.)
|
typically (as is usual in most cases.)
Collocations
abnormally high
|abnormally low
|abnormally large
|abnormally small
|abnormally high levels
|abnormally low temperature
|abnormally high pressure
|abnormally slow growth
|abnormally fast heartbeat
|abnormally high rates
Themes
health
|science
|statistics
|weather
Examples
- The lake level was abnormally low after months without rain.
- Several patients showed abnormally high blood pressure readings.
- Traffic was moving abnormally slowly for a Saturday morning.
Learner examples
- Today is abnormally cold for April.
- His test result was abnormally high.
adverb
B2
property
2
in an unusual or odd way
in a way that is not normal
Usage pattern:
abnormally + [verb/adjective] (e.g., abnormally quiet, abnormally pale)
Common mistake:
Often sounds negative or concerning; for neutral “different,” learners may prefer “unusually.”
Synonyms
oddly (more informal and less precise.)
|
strangely (emphasizes that something seems surprising.)
Antonyms
normally (in the usual way.)
Collocations
abnormally quiet
|abnormally aggressive
|abnormally pale
|abnormally anxious
|abnormally calm
|abnormally tense
|abnormally secretive
Themes
daily_life
|behavior
|describing_people
Examples
- He was acting abnormally quiet all evening, which worried his friends.
- The dog behaved abnormally after eating something from the trash.
- She looked abnormally pale under the bright office lights.
Learner examples
- The room was abnormally quiet.
- She is abnormally tired today.
adverb
technical
C1
property
3
in a medically abnormal way
in a way that shows a health problem
Usage pattern:
abnormally + [medical adjective/verb] (e.g., abnormally enlarged, abnormally develops)
Synonyms
pathologically (explicitly medical and more technical.)
Antonyms
healthily (in a way that shows normal, healthy function.)
Collocations
abnormally enlarged
|abnormally shaped
|abnormally developed
|abnormally thickened
|abnormally elevated
|abnormally reduced
|abnormally functioning
Themes
health
|medicine
|biology
Examples
- The scan showed that one of the glands was abnormally enlarged.
- In this condition, the cells divide abnormally and form a mass.
- The heart valve was moving abnormally, affecting blood flow.
Learner examples
- The doctor said the result was abnormally high.
- The scan showed an abnormally large organ.
Grammar
Dictionary form
abnormally
IPA
GB/æbnˈɔɹməli/
US/æbnˈɔɹməli/
Syllables & stress
ab - nor - mally (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (nor)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: abnormally
- Plural: abnormallies
Word family
Expressions
abnormally cold
1/æbnˈɔɹməli kˈoʊld/
fixed phrase
colder than usual
colder than normal
Examples
- It’s been abnormally cold for early March.
- The region experienced an abnormally cold snap that damaged crops.
- Nights are abnormally cold in the desert, even in summer.
abnormally high
1/æbnˈɔɹməli hˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
higher than normal
higher than normal
Examples
- Energy bills were abnormally high this month because of the cold weather.
- The report flagged abnormally high error rates in the last update.
- Her doctor noted abnormally high cholesterol levels.
abnormally large
1/æbnˈɔɹməli lˈɑɹd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
larger than normal
bigger than normal
Examples
- The mechanic found an abnormally large amount of metal dust in the oil.
- The ultrasound showed an abnormally large spleen.
- They received an abnormally large number of complaints after the change.
abnormally low
1/æbnˈɔɹməli lˈoʊ/
fixed phrase
lower than normal
lower than normal
Examples
- Water reserves are abnormally low after the dry winter.
- The lab result showed abnormally low iron levels.
- Sales were abnormally low during the week of the outage.
abnormally quiet
1/æbnˈɔɹməli kwˈaɪət/
fixed phrase
quieter than usual
too quiet, not normal
Examples
- The office was abnormally quiet after the announcement.
- The kids were abnormally quiet in the back seat, so I checked on them.
- The street seemed abnormally quiet for a Friday night.
abnormally warm
1/æbnˈɔɹməli wˈɔɹm/
fixed phrase
warmer than usual
warmer than normal
Examples
- The city had an abnormally warm winter this year.
- An abnormally warm ocean can fuel stronger storms.
- It was abnormally warm for October, so people ate outside.