What does exceptional mean?
Word: Exceptional
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Exceptional means much better than usual, outstanding. It can also mean unusual and not happening often, as in exceptional circumstances.
Synonyms: outstanding, remarkable, extraordinary, unusual
Antonyms: average, common
How do you spell exceptional?
Syllables: ex - cep - tion - al
Tricky part: Students drop the c after the x and write exeptional, because the x seems to carry the whole sound.
Watch out for: exeptional, exseptional, exceptionnal
Memory tip: Accept and except both carry a c before the e, and exceptional keeps that same c straight after its x.
Exceptional in a sentence
Example 1: The monsoon brought exceptional rainfall to the desert towns this year.
Example 2: Kabir is an exceptional goalkeeper for a boy of thirteen.
Example 3: Exceptional care is needed when handling these old palm-leaf manuscripts.
Fun Fact
Except comes from Latin excipere, to take out: ex means out and capere means to take. An exception is something taken out of the general rule.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word exceptional as used in the sentence:
The cricket academy looks for players with exceptional talent.
a) youthful
b) hidden
c) natural
d) ordinary
Show answer
d) ordinary. Exceptional talent is rare; ordinary talent is what most people have.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Our coach says Tara has exceptionel balance on the beam for a girl who started gymnastics only two years ago in a small hall in Pune.
a) balance
b) exceptionel
c) gymnastics
d) started
Show answer
b) exceptionel. Adjectives built from nouns like this take al at the end, never el.
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly and one is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. generous 2. obedient 3. excepsional 4. punctual
a) much better than usual; outstanding
b) willing to do what you are told
c) arriving or doing something at the agreed time
d) willing to give more than is expected
Show answer
a) much better than usual; outstanding. The middle of the word is tion, not sion, so excepsional is the misspelt one.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The rainfall in Cherrapunji this July was lacnoepxite even by its own standards.
a) exponential
b) exceptional
c) occasional
d) conventional
Show answer
b) exceptional. Exponential has two n's and no c, so the jumble, with its single n and a c, gives exceptional.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which report-card comment describes exceptional work?
a) Has improved slightly since last term.
b) Needs a little more effort in maths.
c) Far beyond what is expected at her age.
d) Steady and in line with the class.
Show answer
c) Far beyond what is expected at her age.
2. In which sentence does exceptional mean 'unusual' rather than 'very good'?
a) Leave is granted only in exceptional circumstances.
b) The team gave an exceptional performance.
c) Her exceptional voice won the contest.
d) He is an exceptional goalkeeper.
Show answer
a) Leave is granted only in exceptional circumstances.
