unseasonably

IPA/ʌnˈsiːznəbli/
KK[ənsˈizənəbli]IPA/ʌnˈsiːznəbli/

unseasonably — adverb

1. when the weather is much hotter, colder, wetter, or drier than what is usual for

1.adverbB2
Definition

when the weather is much hotter, colder, wetter, or drier than what is usual for that month or season

Example

The unseasonably warm March weather let Folake and her friends swim at the beach.

unseasonably + adjective describing weather or temperature

Piotr could not believe how unseasonably cold it was for a day in late April.

Common collocations
  • unseasonably warm
  • unseasonably cold
  • unseasonably hot
  • unseasonably wet
  • unseasonably dry
  • unseasonably mild
  • unseasonably cool
  • unseasonably low
  • unseasonably high
Synonyms
  • unusually

    broader — can describe anything surprising, not just weather

  • abnormally

    more technical; used in scientific or medical contexts as well as weather

Grammar Patterns

unseasonably + adjective (warm, cold, wet, dry, mild, hot)

Usage Note

Almost always used before weather or temperature words such as warm, cold, hot, wet, dry, mild, or cool. It is not used for non-weather contexts.

Common Mistakes

The shop was unseasonably busy for a Tuesday.
The shop was unusually busy for a Tuesday.
unseasonably is for weather only; use 'unusually' for other surprising situations.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Unseasonably, unusually, abnormally, atypically, and exceptionally all describe something that deviates from what is expected, but they differ in scope. Unseasonably is the narrowest: it applies only to weather and temperature that break seasonal norms (an unseasonably warm January). Unusually is the everyday choice for anything surprising or out of character across all contexts (an unusually quiet child). Abnormally carries a slightly clinical or technical tone and often suggests a measurable departure from a standard (abnormally high blood pressure). Atypically is formal and stresses that something does not fit a known pattern (atypically for him, he arrived early). Exceptionally emphasises the degree of departure and can be positive or negative (exceptionally talented). When talking about weather, unseasonably is the most precise; in everyday conversation about non-weather surprises, reach for unusually.

unusually ↗abnormally ↗atypically ↗exceptionally ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • unseasonably warm weather
  • unseasonably cold temperatures
  • unseasonably heavy rain

Prepositions

  • unseasonably for

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed within English by adding the prefix un- (meaning 'not') to seasonable ('appropriate for the time of year'), which itself comes from season (borrowed from Old French seson, ultimately from Latin satio 'sowing time'). The adverb suffix -ly was then added. The word first appeared in English around the early 17th century.