ordinary
gb/ˈɔɹdɪnˌɛɹi/ us/ˈɔɹdɪnˌɛɹi/
A2
English
~ 1500
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Not special or unusual
Not special in any way; normal and usual.
Usage pattern:
an ordinary [object/person/day]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'ordinary' with 'usual'. 'Usual' refers to what regularly happens, while 'ordinary' describes something not special.
Synonyms
normal (Very close in meaning, but 'normal' emphasizes conformity to a standard, while 'ordinary' stresses lack of specialness.)
|
common ('Common' can suggest frequency or wide occurrence, while 'ordinary' focuses on lack of distinction.)
Antonyms
extraordinary (Direct opposite; means very unusual or remarkable.)
|
special (Implies having unique or important qualities, unlike 'ordinary'.)
Collocations
ordinary people
|ordinary day
|ordinary life
|ordinary clothes
Themes
daily life
|descriptions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She wore an ordinary dress to the party.
- It was just an ordinary Monday morning.
- The restaurant serves ordinary food, nothing fancy.
- He lives an ordinary life in the suburbs.
- This phone looks ordinary but works very well.
Learner examples
- I had an ordinary day at school.
- He is an ordinary man.
- This is an ordinary pen.
- We saw many ordinary houses on the street.
adjective
B1
property
2
Average in quality or ability
Not very good but not very bad; just average.
Usage pattern:
an ordinary [performance/result/meal]
Synonyms
mediocre ('Mediocre' often has a more negative tone, while 'ordinary' can be neutral.)
Antonyms
excellent (Strongly positive quality, opposite of average.)
Collocations
ordinary performance
|ordinary results
|ordinary quality
Themes
evaluations
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The team's play was ordinary compared to last week.
- Her cooking is ordinary but filling.
- The film was ordinary and forgettable.
- His grades were ordinary this semester.
- The hotel room was clean but rather ordinary.
Learner examples
- The food was ordinary.
- His work is ordinary.
- It was an ordinary game.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
3
Regular worship service part
In Christian churches, the parts of the service that are always the same.
Synonyms
fixed liturgy (A more descriptive phrase for the same concept.)
Collocations
the Ordinary of the Mass
Themes
religion
Examples
- The choir sang the Ordinary during the service.
- He studied the history of the Ordinary in medieval music.
- The Ordinary contrasts with the Proper, which changes daily.
Learner examples
- They learned about the Ordinary in church.
- The Ordinary is always the same words.
- The priest said the Ordinary.
Noun
formal
C2
entity
4
Official person in authority
An official person with special authority in a church or law court.
Synonyms
official ('Official' is more general; 'ordinary' is specific to certain institutions.)
Collocations
military ordinary
|diocesan ordinary
Themes
religion
|law
Examples
- The bishop is the ordinary of the diocese.
- The case was heard by the military ordinary.
- An ordinary has specific powers under canon law.
Learner examples
- The bishop is an ordinary.
- The court spoke to the ordinary.
- An ordinary has power in the church.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ordinary
IPA
GB/ˈɔɹdɪnˌɛɹi/
US/ˈɔɹdɪnˌɛɹi/
Syllables & stress
or - din - ary (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (or)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: ordinary
Word family
Core family
ordinarily
adverb B2
Negative and opposite forms
extraordinary
adjective B1
extraordinarily
adverb B2
Advanced or less common
ordinariness
noun
Expressions
in the ordinary course of events
1/ˈɪn ðə ˈɔɹdɪnˌɛɹi kˈɔɹs əv ɪvˈɛnts/
fixed phrase
formal
As things normally happen
In the normal way that things usually happen.
Examples
- In the ordinary course of events, we would meet once a month.
- Such problems don't arise in the ordinary course of events.
out of the ordinary
1/ˈaʊt əv ðə ˈɔɹdɪnˌɛɹi/
fixed phrase
Unusual or unexpected
Different from what is usual or normal.
Examples
- Her sudden arrival was out of the ordinary.
- There's nothing out of the ordinary about his behavior.
nothing out of the ordinary
1/nˈʌθɪŋ ˈaʊt əv ðə ˈɔɹdɪnˌɛɹi/
fixed phrase
No difference from usual
Used to say that everything is normal.
Examples
- I looked around and saw nothing out of the ordinary.
- The day went by with nothing out of the ordinary happening.
nothing out of the ordinary
2/nˈʌθɪŋ ˈaʊt əv ðə ˈɔɹdɪnˌɛɹi/
fixed phrase
Completely usual or normal situation
Nothing different from what is normal or expected.
Examples
- We checked the house but found nothing out of the ordinary.
- His report contained nothing out of the ordinary.