B2 noun Neutral

bizarrely

/bɪˈzɑːrli/

In a very strange or unusual manner that is often difficult to explain or expect. It is used to describe actions, appearances, or situations that deviate significantly from what is considered normal.

Examples

3 of 5
1

He was dressed bizarrely for a simple trip to the grocery store, wearing a tuxedo and a top hat.

He was dressed bizarrely for a simple trip to the grocery store, wearing a tuxedo and a top hat.

2

The defendant behaved bizarrely during the trial, often muttering to himself while witnesses spoke.

The defendant behaved bizarrely during the trial, often muttering to himself while witnesses spoke.

3

My phone is acting bizarrely today; apps keep opening and closing by themselves.

My phone is acting bizarrely today; apps keep opening and closing by themselves.

Word Family

Noun
bizarreness
Adverb
bizarrely
Adjective
bizarre
💡

Memory Tip

Think of a 'Bazaar' (a marketplace) where you see 'Bizarre' (strange) things you've never seen before.

Quick Quiz

______, the cat started barking like a dog when the mailman arrived.

Correct!

The correct answer is: Bizarrely

Examples

1

He was dressed bizarrely for a simple trip to the grocery store, wearing a tuxedo and a top hat.

everyday

He was dressed bizarrely for a simple trip to the grocery store, wearing a tuxedo and a top hat.

2

The defendant behaved bizarrely during the trial, often muttering to himself while witnesses spoke.

formal

The defendant behaved bizarrely during the trial, often muttering to himself while witnesses spoke.

3

My phone is acting bizarrely today; apps keep opening and closing by themselves.

informal

My phone is acting bizarrely today; apps keep opening and closing by themselves.

4

Bizarrely, the data points in the control group showed higher variance than those in the experimental group.

academic

Bizarrely, the data points in the control group showed higher variance than those in the experimental group.

5

The market reacted bizarrely to the positive earnings report, with share prices dropping immediately.

business

The market reacted bizarrely to the positive earnings report, with share prices dropping immediately.

Word Family

Noun
bizarreness
Adverb
bizarrely
Adjective
bizarre

Common Collocations

bizarrely dressed bizarrely dressed
behave bizarrely behave bizarrely
bizarrely enough bizarrely enough
act bizarrely act bizarrely
bizarrely shaped bizarrely shaped

Common Phrases

Bizarrely enough...

Bizarrely enough...

acting bizarrely

acting bizarrely

bizarrely twisted

bizarrely twisted

Often Confused With

bizarrely vs basely

Basely refers to acting in a low, dishonorable, or mean-spirited way, while bizarrely refers to strangeness.

bizarrely vs visually

Learners sometimes confuse the suffixes, but visually refers to sight, not the quality of the action.

📝

Usage Notes

It is frequently used as a sentence adverb at the beginning of a statement to indicate that the speaker finds the entire situation strange. It can modify verbs of behavior or appearance.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Some learners misspell the word by using only one 'z' or one 'r'. Others use it as a synonym for 'very', but it specifically implies strangeness, not just intensity.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of a 'Bazaar' (a marketplace) where you see 'Bizarre' (strange) things you've never seen before.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the French word 'bizarre' (odd), which originally may have come from the Spanish 'bizarro' meaning 'brave' or 'handsome'.

Grammar Patterns

Adverb modifying a verb (He behaved bizarrely) Sentence adverb (Bizarrely, no one noticed) Adverb modifying an adjective (A bizarrely shaped cloud)

Quick Quiz

______, the cat started barking like a dog when the mailman arrived.

Correct!

The correct answer is: Bizarrely

Related Words

pale

A1

Describes something that has very little color or is much lighter than usual. It is often used to describe a person's face when they are ill or a color that is mixed with a lot of white.

lung

A1

The lungs are two organs inside your chest that you use to breathe. They bring oxygen into your body and remove carbon dioxide when you breathe out.

tropical

A1

Relating to the hot regions of the Earth near the equator. It describes weather that is very warm and wet, or plants and animals that come from these areas.

trader

A1

A trader is a person whose job is to buy and sell goods, stocks, or other items for profit. They can work in a small local market or on large international financial exchanges.

indoor

A1

Describes something that is located, happens, or is used inside a building rather than outside. It is an adjective used before a noun to talk about activities or objects protected from the weather.

threshold

A1

A threshold is the physical area at the bottom of a doorway that you step over to enter a room or building. It also refers to the level or point at which something starts to happen or changes.

tribute

A1

A tribute is something that you say, do, or give to show your respect and admiration for someone. It is often a public act used to honor a person's life, work, or memory.

elder

A1

Used to describe a person who is older than another, especially within a family. It is also used to refer to people who have a high status or more experience because of their age.

russian

A1

Relating to Russia, its people, its language, or its culture. It describes things that come from or are connected to the largest country in the world.

southeastern

A1

Located in or coming from the direction between south and east. It describes a place, a region, or a wind that is in the corner between the bottom and the right on a map.

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