Strangely
/ˈstreɪndʒli/
Definitions
In a manner that is odd, unusual, or not easily explained.
/ˈstreɪndʒli/
In an unusual or unexpected way.
The dog stared at me strangely.
💡 Simply: Imagine your cat suddenly starts speaking English. That's acting strangely! It means something is happening in a way that's surprising or different from what you expect.
👶 For kids: When something happens in a way that's a little bit weird or different from usual.
More Examples
She felt strangely calm before the interview.
The door creaked strangely in the empty house.
He behaved strangely after receiving the news.
How It's Used
"He acted strangely at the party last night."
"The wind howled strangely through the trees."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
strange bedfellows
People or groups who are unlikely to cooperate with each other but do so for a particular reason.
"The political rivals found themselves as strange bedfellows in the coalition government."
From Middle English straungely, equivalent to strange + -ly. "Strange" itself comes from Old French estrange, meaning "foreign, alien."
The word "strangely" has been used for centuries to convey a sense of the unusual or surprising. It's found in early English literature, often describing events or feelings that defy easy explanation.
Memory tip
Think of a situation that felt "strange" – the adverb applies how something occurred or was perceived.
Word Origin
"foreign, alien"