eccentrically
gb/ɪksəntɹɪkəli/ us/ɪksəntɹɪkəli/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
C1
property
1
in an unusual, quirky way
in a strange or unusual way that is not normal
Usage pattern:
[someone] behaves/dresses/speaks/lives eccentrically
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse it with 'electrically' because of spelling and pronunciation.
Synonyms
oddly (more general; can sound less positive.)
|
strangely (often suggests surprise or mystery rather than personality.)
|
unusually (more neutral and less vivid.)
|
quirkily (more playful and positive.)
Antonyms
conventionally (in a way that follows common social expectations.)
|
normally (in the usual or expected way.)
Collocations
behave eccentrically
|dress eccentrically
|live eccentrically
|speak eccentrically
|eccentrically dressed
|eccentrically named
|eccentrically decorated
|eccentrically styled
|eccentrically painted
|eccentrically funny
Themes
people
|personality
|daily_life
Examples
- He dressed eccentrically, mixing formal shoes with bright sports socks.
- She lives eccentrically, collecting antique clocks and keeping unusual pets.
- The professor spoke eccentrically, jumping between ideas but always making a point.
Learner examples
- He dresses eccentrically.
- She behaves eccentrically sometimes.
adverb
technical
C2
relation
2
off-center; not sharing a center
not in the centre; slightly to one side
Usage pattern:
[part/load] is mounted/placed/loaded eccentrically
Common mistake:
In technical contexts it does not mean 'strangely'; it means 'off-center'.
Synonyms
off-centre (direct everyday equivalent (BrE spelling).)
|
off-center (direct everyday equivalent (AmE spelling).)
|
asymmetrically (broader; emphasizes lack of symmetry, not necessarily a shifted center.)
Antonyms
centrally (located at or near the centre.)
|
concentrically (sharing the same centre (technical opposite).)
Collocations
eccentrically mounted
|eccentrically loaded
|eccentrically placed
|eccentrically positioned
|eccentrically rotating
|eccentrically aligned
|eccentrically bored
|eccentrically driven
|eccentrically supported
|eccentrically applied force
Themes
engineering
|mechanics
|technology
Examples
- The weight was attached eccentrically, so the wheel wobbled at high speed.
- If a beam is loaded eccentrically, it can twist as well as bend.
- The shaft rotated eccentrically because the bearing was worn.
Learner examples
- The part was mounted eccentrically.
adverb
technical
C2
process
3
with a noncircular orbit
in an oval orbit, not a circle
Usage pattern:
[object] orbits/travels eccentrically
Common mistake:
Do not confuse this with the everyday meaning about people acting strangely.
Synonyms
elliptically (more precise; directly refers to an ellipse.)
Antonyms
circularly (moving in a roughly circular orbit.)
Collocations
orbit eccentrically
|eccentrically orbiting
|eccentrically inclined orbit
|eccentrically perturbed
|eccentrically shaped orbit
Themes
science
|astronomy
Examples
- Some comets travel eccentrically, spending most of their time far from the Sun.
- The moon’s path can shift slightly, causing it to orbit more eccentrically for a time.
Grammar
Dictionary form
eccentrically
IPA
GB/ɪksəntɹɪkəli/
US/ɪksəntɹɪkəli/
Syllables & stress
ec - cent - ric - ally (4 syllables)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: eccentrically
- Plural: eccentricallies
Word family
Forms
eccentricallies
noun
Core family
eccentric
adjective B2
eccentricity
noun C1
Expressions
eccentrically loaded
1/ɪksəntɹɪkəli lˈoʊdɪd/
fixed phrase
technical
loaded away from the center
a load is put on one side, not in the middle
Examples
- An eccentrically loaded column may fail by buckling sooner than expected.
- The bracket became bent because it was eccentrically loaded during installation.
- The engineer redesigned the joint to reduce eccentrically loaded conditions.
eccentrically mounted
1/ɪksəntɹɪkəli mˈaʊntɪd/
fixed phrase
technical
attached off-center
attached not in the centre
Examples
- An eccentrically mounted cam converts rotation into up-and-down motion.
- The fan vibrated because one blade was eccentrically mounted.
- The sensor was eccentrically mounted to avoid interference from the main housing.
eccentrically placed
1/ɪksəntɹɪkəli plˈeɪst/
fixed phrase
positioned off-center
put in a position that is not centered
Examples
- The logo looked unbalanced because it was eccentrically placed on the label.
- A mirror eccentrically placed on the wall can make the room feel wider.
- The handle was eccentrically placed to match the asymmetrical design.