What does "extra" mean?
Something additional, such as an item above and beyond the ordinary school curriculum, or added to the usual charge on a bill.
Extra
/ˈɛkstɹə/ adj, adv, noun, slang
adj, adv, noun, slang ·Top 500 ·Elementary level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Something additional, such as an item above and beyond the ordinary school curriculum, or added to the usual charge on a bill.
- Grammar: extra is listed as adj, adv, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: additional, superfluous, above, accessory.
- Useful contrasts: barely, deficiency, enough.
- Usage evidence: You must cut down on extra expenses in order to live within your means.
How to use "extra"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "extra" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "extra" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "extra" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "extra" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "extra" is acting as adj, adv, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "additional" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "extra", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Something additional, such as an item above and beyond the ordinary school curriculum, or added to the usual charge on a bill.
- 2 something additional of the same kind wordnet
- 3 An extra edition of a newspaper, which is printed outside of the normal printing cycle, for example to report an important late-breaking event.
"Extra, extra! Read all about it!"
- 4 an additional edition of a newspaper (usually to report a crisis) wordnet
- 5 A run scored without the ball having hit the striker's bat - a wide, bye, leg bye or no ball.
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 a minor actor in crowd scenes wordnet
- 7 A supernumerary or walk-on in a film or play.
- 8 The state or trait of being over the top, of behaving in an overly dramatic manner. slang
"Stop! I can't deal with all your extra today!"
- 9 Something of an extra quality or grade.
- 10 A day of extra duties (often, over the weekends) in camp, as a form of punishment. Used in the phrase “to sign extra”, meaning one has been assigned extras as punishment. Singapore, countable
Adjective
- 1 Beyond what is due, usual, expected, or necessary; extraneous; additional; supernumerary. not-comparable, usually
"I don't mind doing some extra work, as long as I get extra pay."
- 2 Extraordinarily good; superior. dated, not-comparable, usually
- 3 Over the top; going beyond what is normal or appropriate, often in a dramatic manner. comparable, not-comparable, slang, usually
"You unfollowed her for posting cat memes? You're so extra!"
Adjective
- 1 further or added wordnet
- 2 more than is needed, desired, or required wordnet
- 3 added to a regular schedule wordnet
Adverb
- 1 To an extraordinary degree. informal, not-comparable
"That day he ran to school extra fast."
Adverb
- 1 unusually or exceptionally wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"You must cut down on extra expenses in order to live within your means."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "extra"?
Common synonyms include: additional, superfluous, above, accessory, accident, accidental.
How do you use "extra" in a sentence?
You must cut down on extra expenses in order to live within your means.
How do you pronounce "extra"?
Pronounced /ˈɛkstɹə/.
Etymology
Abbreviation of extraordinary.