strange

[ streynj ]

adjective

, strang·er, strang·est.

1. unusual, extraordinary, or curious; odd; queer:

   a strange remark to make.

   Synonyms: anomalous, abnormal, singular, bizarre

2. estranged, alienated, etc., as a result of being out of one's natural environment:

   I felt strange as I walked through the crowded marketplace.

3. situated, belonging, or coming from outside of one's own locality; foreign:

   to move to a strange place; strange religions.

4. outside of one's previous experience; hitherto unknown; unfamiliar:

   strange faces; strange customs.

   Antonyms: familiar

5. unaccustomed to or inexperienced in; unacquainted (usually followed by to ):

   I'm strange to this part of the job.

   Antonyms: familiar

6. distant or reserved; shy.

   Synonyms: aloof

   Antonyms: familiar

adverb

1. in a strange manner.

strange

/ streɪndʒ /

adjective

1. odd, unusual, or extraordinary in appearance, effect, manner, etc; peculiar
2. not known, seen, or experienced before; unfamiliar

   a strange land

3. not easily explained

   a strange phenomenon

4. usually foll by to inexperienced (in) or unaccustomed (to)

   strange to a task

5. not of one's own kind, locality, etc; alien; foreign
6. shy; distant; reserved
7. strange to say
   it is unusual or surprising that
8. physics
   1. denoting a particular flavour of quark
   2. denoting or relating to a hypothetical form of matter composed of such quarks

      a strange star

      strange matter

adverb

1. not_standard.
   in a strange manner

Derived Forms

• ˈstrangely, adverb

Other Words From

• strangely adverb
• un·strange adjective
• un·strangely adverb
• un·strangeness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of strange¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French estrange, from Latin extrāneus; extraneous

Word History and Origins

Origin of strange¹

C13: from Old French estrange, from Latin extrāneus foreign; see extraneous

Synonym Study

Strange, peculiar, odd, queer refer to that which is out of the ordinary. Strange implies that the thing or its cause is unknown or unexplained; it is unfamiliar and unusual: a strange expression. That which is peculiar mystifies, or exhibits qualities not shared by others: peculiar behavior. That which is odd is irregular or unconventional, and sometimes approaches the bizarre: an odd custom. Queer sometimes adds to odd the suggestion of something abnormal and eccentric: queer in the head.

Example Sentences

And for players and fans, these two games represent a strange 'limbo' period before new head coach Thomas Tuchel takes over in January.

From BBC

He has a similar aw-shucks, genial manner — easy to laugh and quick to offer a cup of tea — that belies the strange hive of imagery buzzing inside his head.

From Los Angeles Times

His lies follow a familiar pattern: A distinguished army career, villa in Cyprus, working strange hours to allow him space to cultivate multiple relationships at the same time.

From BBC

Thirty years later and attitudes remain much the same towards one of sport's strangest positions and the players used in the specific instance when a team kick the ball away to clear their lines.

From BBC

For weeks, an elderly woman complained to her family about the strange knocking sounds coming from beneath her El Sereno home late at night.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• astonishing
• bizarre
• curious
• different
• extraordinary
• fantastic
• funny
• new
• odd
• offbeat
• outlandish
• peculiar
• rare
• remarkable
• unusual
• weird
• wonderful