extra

1 of 4

adjective

ex·​tra ˈek-strə 

1

a

: more than is due, usual, or necessary : additional

extra work

In preparation for this weekend's competition, the team put in some extra hours.

—Andrew King

… has a large storage area for things like a tent, sleeping bag, mosquito netting, extra clothing, and an extra pair of boots.

—Stephanie Fitzgerald

b

: subject to an additional charge

dessert is extra

There is an entrance charge of €5 per person, and it's extra for sunbeds …

—Eilis O'Hanlon

2

: superior

extra quality

3

slang : going beyond what is usual or standard: such as

a

: extremely or excessively elaborate : extravagant

This Ontario mansion … is basically a mini castle and is so extra it even comes with a 16-foot waterfall.

—Patrick John Gilson

b

: characterized by dramatic or eccentric behavior : over-the-top

… women who are seen as too fun, too brash, too extra, too loud …

—Bonnie McLaren

"So this is my dad," she [Annisa Simao] says. "If you know him, you know he's pretty goofy, … pretty extra."

—Natalie B. Compton

extra

2 of 4

noun

1

: one that is extra or additional: such as

a

: a special edition of a newspaper

b

: an added charge

c

: an additional worker

specifically : one hired to act in a group scene in a movie, on television, or in a stage production

d

: an attractive addition or accessory : frill

cars loaded with extras

2

: something of superior quality or grade

extra

3 of 4

adverb

: beyond the usual size, extent, or degree

extra large

extra-

4 of 4

prefix

: outside : beyond

extrajudicial

Synonyms of extra

Adjective

• excess
• surplus
• additional
• spare

Noun

• spare

Adverb

• extremely
• very
• incredibly
• damn
• too
• highly
• terribly
• damned
• so
• full
• really
• much
• desperately
• badly
• super
• severely
• most
• seriously
• greatly
• far
• that
• real
• heavily
• jolly
• especially

Examples of extra in a Sentence

Adjective

a sandwich with extra mayonnaise

She got a part-time job to earn some extra money.

He gave us an extra week to finish the job.

There's no extra charge for breakfast.

Noun

The package deal includes some nice extras.

Thousands of extras were hired for the battle scene.

Adverb

You have to pay $5 extra for room service.

The food was extra good.

The roads are slippery, so be extra careful.

This is an extra special occasion.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Thanks to their Thursday-night maneuvering, the Niners now possess the extra draft capital necessary to package some picks and jump back up to grab another Top 50 prospect. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026

That’s more than $500 extra annually for the typical family’s grocery bill — money that stays in working-class pockets when markets work freely — precisely while large volume retailers often provide the only real relief in this post-Biden inflation hangover. —Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026

Noun

The minibar is one of the room’s better surprises, stocked with local snacks and small-batch bottles (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) that feel more corner-boutique than cookie-cutter hotel, plus thoughtful extras like a Sleep & Recover kit complete with sleep gummies, focus mints, and eye gels. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026

Vertical touted the dramatic locations, 12,500 extras, and abundant horses and camels made available with substantial support from Neom, the massive Saudi development with sound stages and infrastructure created by the film’s backer MBC Studios. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026

Adverb

So, Wolniakowski is extra fired up to make her final season a special one. —Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026

Paul Scheer made his prom day extra sweet, pairing a delicious accessory to go with his black tuxedo, colorful bowtie and matching vest. —Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

probably short for extraordinary

Prefix

Latin, from extra, adverb & preposition, outside, except, beyond, from exter being on the outside — more at exterior

First Known Use

Adjective

1757, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1793, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1778, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing extra

• extra-base hit
• extra point
• extra-virgin
• go the extra mile

Kids Definition

extra

1 of 4 adjective

ex·​tra ˈek-strə 

: more than is due, usual, or necessary

extra

2 of 4 noun

: something extra: as

a

: a special edition of a newspaper

b

: a person hired to act in a group scene (as in a movie)

extra

3 of 4 adverb

: beyond the usual size, extent, or degree

extra long

extra large eggs

extra-

4 of 4 prefix

: outside : beyond

extracurricular

Etymology

Prefix

derived from Latin extra "outside, beyond" — related to strange