extreme
gb/ɪkstɹˈim/ us/ɪkstɹˈim/
B1
English
~ 2600
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
very great in degree
Very strong or very great in amount or degree.
Usage pattern:
[something] is extreme
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'extreme' with 'extremist', which refers to a person with radical views.
Synonyms
severe (Often used for serious or intense situations, especially negative ones.)
|
intense (Focuses on the strength or force of something, often emotional or sensory.)
Antonyms
moderate (Describes something average in degree, not too strong or too weak.)
Collocations
extreme weather
|extreme heat
|extreme pain
|extreme conditions
|extreme danger
Themes
descriptions
|emotions
|weather
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The hikers faced extreme cold at the mountain's peak.
- She has an extreme fear of heights.
- The country is experiencing extreme drought this year.
- His extreme dedication impressed everyone.
- Extreme pressure can cause materials to break.
Learner examples
- The weather is extreme today.
- He has extreme fear of dogs.
- We had extreme heat last summer.
- The test was of extreme difficulty.
- They live in extreme poverty.
adjective
B2
property
2
going to the furthest limit
At the highest or furthest possible level.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is extreme in [way/degree]
Synonyms
radical (Implies a complete departure from the usual or traditional.)
Antonyms
mild (Implies a gentle or less intense approach.)
Collocations
extreme measures
|extreme cases
|extreme example
|extreme views
Themes
descriptions
|opinions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The government took extreme measures to control the outbreak.
- Her diet is extreme and not recommended by doctors.
- This is an extreme case of fraud.
- They went to extreme lengths to hide the truth.
Learner examples
- He took extreme steps to finish the work.
- Her ideas are extreme.
- This is an extreme plan.
- They made an extreme change.
Noun
B2
entity
3
furthest point from average
The most unusual or most different point possible.
Usage pattern:
the extreme of [something]
Synonyms
limit (A boundary beyond which something cannot go.)
Antonyms
middle (The central or average position between two extremes.)
Collocations
opposite extremes
|at the extremes
|go to extremes
Themes
descriptions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The temperature ranges from one extreme to another in this region.
- In politics, people at the extremes rarely agree.
- He went to extremes to get what he wanted.
Learner examples
- The weather goes from one extreme to another.
- Some people live at the extremes of wealth and poverty.
- She went to extremes to win.
Grammar
Dictionary form
extreme
IPA
GB/ɪkstɹˈim/
US/ɪkstɹˈim/
Syllables & stress
ex - treme (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (treme)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: extreme
Noun
- Base: extreme
- Plural: extremes
Word family
Expressions
at the other extreme
1/ˈæt ðə ˈʌðɚ ɪkstɹˈim/
fixed phrase
opposite end of a range
In a completely different and opposite situation or condition.
Examples
- Some students are very quiet; at the other extreme, some never stop talking.
- At one extreme, we have total freedom; at the other extreme, strict control.
from one extreme to the other
1/fɹˈʌm wˈʌn ɪkstɹˈim tə ðə ˈʌðɚ/
fixed phrase
change between opposites
To move or change completely from one opposite situation to another.
Examples
- The weather here can swing from one extreme to the other in hours.
- Her mood went from one extreme to the other during the meeting.
go to extremes
1/ɡˈoʊ tə ɪkstɹˈimz/
idiom
act far beyond normal limits
To do something much more than is normal or reasonable.
Examples
- She goes to extremes when decorating for holidays.
- In his training, he goes to extremes to improve his performance.