26984 words

extreme

12 definitions • 16 examples
1
very large in amount or degree:

Examples:

2
very severe or bad:

Examples:

in extreme cases In extreme cases, the disease can lead to blindness.
3
Extreme beliefs and political parties are considered by most people to be unreasonable and unacceptable:

Examples:

extreme views He has rather extreme views.
He's on the extreme right wing of the party.
4
at the furthest point, especially from the centre:

Examples:

They live in the extreme south of the island.
5
the largest possible amount or degree of something:

Examples:

I've never witnessed such extremes of wealth and poverty.
take something to extremes Most people I know work fairly hard but she takes it to extremes.
go to extremes Some researchers will go to extremes to get data.
6
used for emphasis; extremely:

Examples:

Some of the scenes were unpleasant in the extreme.
7
a situation, feeling, etc. that is the opposite or very different from another one:

Examples:

go from one extreme to the other My moods seem to go from one extreme to the other (= my moods often change from very bad to very good).
8
very great; beyond what is usual or what might be expected:

Examples:

Use extreme caution, as the steps are very slippery.
The extreme cold kept most people indoors.
9
at the furthest point; to the greatest degree:

Examples:

At the extreme end of the lake there is a hunting lodge.
10
Extreme opinions, ideas, etc., are beyond the usual range of variety and would seem unreasonable to most people.
11
the first or fourth terms (= numbers or symbols) of a proportion (= a mathematical statement with a comparison of two numbers calculated by division on each side):

Examples:

In the proportion a/b=t/z the terms a and z are the extremes.
12
the greatest possible amount or degree of something:

Examples:

The security staff went to extremes to insure the safety of the world leaders.

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