Ordinary
adjective
Normal or usual; not special or different.
Today was just an ordinary day.
noun
In law, a judge with jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases.
He was tried by the ordinary and found guilty.
Usage tips
Formal
adjective
Not having special rank or status; common.
He's an ordinary man, not a boss or a VIP.
noun
In churches, a book or manual discussing the parts of divine service that do not change.
The Bishop has set out new instructions in the ordinary.
Usage tips
Formal
adjective
Normal or usual; not special or different.
Today was just an ordinary day.
noun
In law, a judge with jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases.
He was tried by the ordinary and found guilty.
Usage tips
Formal
adjective
Not having special rank or status; common.
He's an ordinary man, not a boss or a VIP.
noun
In churches, a book or manual discussing the parts of divine service that do not change.
The Bishop has set out new instructions in the ordinary.
Usage tips
Formal
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/2Typical Day
Use 'ordinary' to describe days or events with no significant features or excitement.
After winning the lottery, he missed the feel of an ordinary Sunday.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Special
'Ordinary' suggests something is neither good nor bad, just normal.
She wanted an ordinary dress, nothing fancy for the event.
Pro Tip 1/2Typical Day
Use 'ordinary' to describe days or events with no significant features or excitement.
After winning the lottery, he missed the feel of an ordinary Sunday.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Special
'Ordinary' suggests something is neither good nor bad, just normal.
She wanted an ordinary dress, nothing fancy for the event.
Pro Tip 1/2Typical Day
Use 'ordinary' to describe days or events with no significant features or excitement.
After winning the lottery, he missed the feel of an ordinary Sunday.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Special
'Ordinary' suggests something is neither good nor bad, just normal.
She wanted an ordinary dress, nothing fancy for the event.
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Video examples
Which country does the...
tracking what ordinary people think about other countries and why. Why did I do this? Well, because the governments that I advise are very, very keen on knowing how they are regarded. They've known, partly because I've encouraged them to realize it, that countries depend enormously on their reputations
Video examples
What it's like to be a...
people want ordinary things. They want prosperity for their family, they want jobs and they want to live in peace. So I am not in any way an exception. When you meet people who seem like an exception to the rule, oftentimes it's that the rule is broken, not that they're an exception to it.
Video examples
The colossal consequences...
was what is known as a supervolcano, characterized by a volume of erupted material, many times greater than that of ordinary volcanoes. And while the popular image of volcanic destruction is molten rock engulfing the surrounding land, far greater devastation is caused
Video examples
What is bipolar...
it can feel impossible to find the balance necessary to lead a healthy life. Type 1's extreme highs are known as manic episodes, and they can make a person range from feeling irritable to invincible. But these euphoric episodes exceed ordinary feelings of joy,
Video examples
Re-writing laws to help...
survivors the second is the solution that with this bill we have a path forward and the third is the realization that the voices of ordinary citizens can still change the world to be honest with you it's really scary for me to be on
Video examples
How much of what you see...
are much more closely tied to ordinary perception than we once thought. And by studying hallucinations, we stand to learn a great deal about how our brains construct the world we see, hear, smell, and touch. As we learn more,
Video examples
Why 30 is not the new 20...
about your body and your options. So when we think about child development, we all know that the first five years are a critical period for language and attachment in the brain. It's a time when your ordinary, day-to-day life
Video examples
What makes a hero? -...
Return After all that adventure, the hero returns to his ordinary world. New Life This quest has changed the hero; he has outgrown his old life.
Video examples
Best Lion Moments Part 2...
at the world's most unusual lions it was clear from the start that their behavior was out of the ordinary in the first sort of
Video examples
Baby Bison Takes on Wolf...
is no ordinary calf hopelessly outmatched to the courage of
Video examples
Which country does the...
tracking what ordinary people think about other countries and why. Why did I do this? Well, because the governments that I advise are very, very keen on knowing how they are regarded. They've known, partly because I've encouraged them to realize it, that countries depend enormously on their reputations
Video examples
What it's like to be a...
people want ordinary things. They want prosperity for their family, they want jobs and they want to live in peace. So I am not in any way an exception. When you meet people who seem like an exception to the rule, oftentimes it's that the rule is broken, not that they're an exception to it.
Video examples
The colossal consequences...
was what is known as a supervolcano, characterized by a volume of erupted material, many times greater than that of ordinary volcanoes. And while the popular image of volcanic destruction is molten rock engulfing the surrounding land, far greater devastation is caused
Video examples
What is bipolar...
it can feel impossible to find the balance necessary to lead a healthy life. Type 1's extreme highs are known as manic episodes, and they can make a person range from feeling irritable to invincible. But these euphoric episodes exceed ordinary feelings of joy,
Video examples
Re-writing laws to help...
survivors the second is the solution that with this bill we have a path forward and the third is the realization that the voices of ordinary citizens can still change the world to be honest with you it's really scary for me to be on
Video examples
How much of what you see...
are much more closely tied to ordinary perception than we once thought. And by studying hallucinations, we stand to learn a great deal about how our brains construct the world we see, hear, smell, and touch. As we learn more,
Video examples
Why 30 is not the new 20...
about your body and your options. So when we think about child development, we all know that the first five years are a critical period for language and attachment in the brain. It's a time when your ordinary, day-to-day life
Video examples
What makes a hero? -...
Return After all that adventure, the hero returns to his ordinary world. New Life This quest has changed the hero; he has outgrown his old life.
Video examples
Best Lion Moments Part 2...
at the world's most unusual lions it was clear from the start that their behavior was out of the ordinary in the first sort of
Video examples
Baby Bison Takes on Wolf...
is no ordinary calf hopelessly outmatched to the courage of
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Gordon B. Hinckley
American Clergyman
The major work of the world is not done by geniuses. It is done by ordinary people, with balance in their lives, who have learned to work in an extraordinary manner.
Quote examples
George Orwell
British Author
The intellectual is different from the ordinary man, but only in certain sections of his personality, and even then not all the time.
Quote examples
Sidney Poitier
American Actor
I wanted to look at them because I feel, internally, that I am an ordinary person who has had an extraordinary life.
Quote examples
Viola Davis
American Actress
And this is what was fascinating to me about 'The Help'; they were ordinary people who did extraordinary things.
Quote examples
Mary McGarry Morris
American Novelist
I'm a quiet person, and I live a quiet, pleasant, ordinary, simple life.
Quote examples
Mark Haddon
English Novelist
That's important to me, to find the extraordinary inside the ordinary.
Quote examples
Karen Thompson Walker
Author
There's a pleasure in being reminded of the value of ordinary life.
Quote examples
Joan Didion
American Author
Life changes in the instant. The ordinary instant.
Quote examples
Peaches Geldof
British Journalist
I hate being called spoilt. My life is ordinary.
Quote examples
Sixto Rodriguez
American Musician
I've had such an ordinary life.
Quote examples
Gordon B. Hinckley
American Clergyman
The major work of the world is not done by geniuses. It is done by ordinary people, with balance in their lives, who have learned to work in an extraordinary manner.
Quote examples
George Orwell
British Author
The intellectual is different from the ordinary man, but only in certain sections of his personality, and even then not all the time.
Quote examples
Sidney Poitier
American Actor
I wanted to look at them because I feel, internally, that I am an ordinary person who has had an extraordinary life.
Quote examples
Viola Davis
American Actress
And this is what was fascinating to me about 'The Help'; they were ordinary people who did extraordinary things.
Quote examples
Mary McGarry Morris
American Novelist
I'm a quiet person, and I live a quiet, pleasant, ordinary, simple life.
Quote examples
Mark Haddon
English Novelist
That's important to me, to find the extraordinary inside the ordinary.
Quote examples
Karen Thompson Walker
Author
There's a pleasure in being reminded of the value of ordinary life.
Quote examples
Joan Didion
American Author
Life changes in the instant. The ordinary instant.
Quote examples
Peaches Geldof
British Journalist
I hate being called spoilt. My life is ordinary.
Quote examples
Sixto Rodriguez
American Musician
I've had such an ordinary life.
Example 1 of 10
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