ultra

adjective ul·tra \ ˈəl-trə \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

Definition of ultra

: going beyond others or beyond due limit : extreme

See ultra defined for kids

Examples of ultra in a Sentence

espouses a kind of ultra conservatism that even some members of his own party cannot support

Recent Examples of ultra from the Web

And the ultra-rich, many of whom made their fortunes in tech, fuel a large portion of the state’s tax revenue.

— emily cadei, sacbee, "Tough love for Zuckerberg from Californians in Congress | The Sacramento Bee," 9 Apr. 2018
All work is sanded to an ultra-fine grit for a smooth surface and oiled.

— atlanta life, ajc, "Made in the South using wood, metal, scissors," 3 Apr. 2018
Because the ultra-rich deserve nothing less than the most placid of footsteps!

— natalie b. compton, GQ, "The Latest Trend in Travel Start-Ups Is Catering to the Ultra-Rich," 26 Mar. 2018
Take it from someone who recently dropped her Opal Becca highlighter on the ground and had to pick up chunks of the soft, ultra-fine powder before running out to buy another.

— shannon barbour, The Cut, "Becca Just Released Its Darkest Highlighter Shade Yet," 26 Mar. 2018
The secret to the buildable matte finish is a trio of ultra-fine powders, which help to create a blurring effect while controlling shine without the oft-unfortunate side effect of dryness.

— macaela mackenzie, Allure, "Cover FX's New Power Play Foundation Offers Dewy Coverage to Oily Skin Types," 14 Mar. 2018
Making the nerve agent harder to detect, it can be produced in liquid form or as an ultra-fine powder.

— Fox News, "Nerve agent Novichock, used in ex-spy's poisoning, is 5 times stronger than VX or sarin," 13 Mar. 2018
The younger Netanyahu's drunken banter is another unflattering moment for the family, which has been criticized for being too cozy with ultra-rich donors and living a lavish lifestyle at taxpayers' expense.

— rick noack, Washington Post, "Mysterious attacks on Russian military bases, and 5 other global stories you might have missed," 11 Jan. 2018
For an extra boost, some doctors combine an HA serum with microneedling, using an ultra-fine set of needles to help the serum penetrate into the deeper layers of skin.

— emily dudding, Harper's BAZAAR, "How To Get Bigger Lips," 26 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ultra.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ultra

ultra-

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1818

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

ultra Synonyms

ultra

noun

Definition of ultra

: one that is ultra : extremist

Recent Examples of ultra from the Web

Starting in the summer over a huge contract dispute, the stopper received abuse from Italy fans during one match in particular, during which ultras threw fake money at the youngster.

— SI.com, "Gianluigi Donnarumma's Agent Hints at Summer Departure With Pepe Reina Set to Replace the Italian," 21 Mar. 2018
But this is the first prospective study to assess a person’s cancer risk alongside their ultra processed foods habit, and way more research needs to be done before any definitive conclusions can be made, says Srour.

— korin miller, SELF, "What Are 'Ultra-Processed' Foods Exactly?," 2 Mar. 2018
That’s a question Second Amendment ultras never answer.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Do We Need Assault Weapons in Case We Decide to Kill ‘Tyrannical’ Cops and Soldiers?," 22 Feb. 2018
The two clubs share the Stadio Olimpico and Lazio's ultras were housed in the south end of the ground normally reserved for Roma supporters.

— afp, chicagotribune.com, "Lazio handed 2-match stadium ban for Anne Frank photo," 19 Jan. 2018
On Sunday, Lazio’s ultras found themselves in the section on the opposite side of the stadium, the southern section where Roma fans usually sit during home games.

— jason horowitz, New York Times, "Revulsion in Italian Soccer Over Anti-Semitic Taunts," 26 Oct. 2017
The largest concentration of ultras, by a landslide, are in California and Texas, with an average of 142 annual races each for 2017, according to Running in the USA, as of publication.

— morgan tilton, SELF, "How I Got Hooked on Running 50-Plus-Mile Races," 24 Oct. 2017
Serie A chiefs had called on all of its clubs to hold a minute's silence and read passages from Anne Frank's memoirs after Lazio ultras handed out sickening stickers mocking Jews during their home match on Sunday.

— SI.com, "Anti-Semitic Italy Row Escalates as Small Fan Minority Refuse to Observe Holocaust Tribute," 26 Oct. 2017
As a result, Lazio decided to open the southern end and let the ultras sit where Roma's hard-core fans usually sit for their home matches.

— andrew dampf, The Christian Science Monitor, "Italy uses Anne Frank's diary to combat anti-Semitism at sports games," 26 Oct. 2017