STRANGE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does strange mean? 

• STRANGE (adjective)
  The adjective STRANGE has 3 senses:

1. being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

2. not known before

3. relating to or originating in or characteristic of another place or part of the world

  Familiarity information: STRANGE used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STRANGE (adjective)

Comparative: stranger   
Superlative: strangest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

Synonyms:

strange; unusual

Context example:

what a strange sense of humor she has

Similar:

antic; fantastic; fantastical; grotesque (ludicrously odd)

weird (strikingly odd or unusual)

quaint (very strange or unusual; odd or even incongruous in character or appearance)

quaint (strange in an interesting or pleasing way)

other (very unusual; different in character or quality from the normal or expected)

oddish (somewhat strange)

gothic (characterized by gloom and mystery and the grotesque)

freaky (strange and somewhat frightening)

exotic (strikingly strange or unusual)

eerie; eery (inspiring a feeling of fear; strange and frightening)

curious; funny; odd; peculiar; queer; rum; rummy; singular (beyond or deviating from the usual or expected)

crazy (bizarre or fantastic)

Antonym:

familiar (within normal everyday experience; common and ordinary; not strange)

Derivation:

strangeness (unusualness as a consequence of not being well known)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Not known before

Synonyms:

strange; unknown

Context example:

don't let anyone unknown into the house

Similar:

unfamiliar (not known or well known)

Derivation:

strangeness (unusualness as a consequence of not being well known)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Relating to or originating in or characteristic of another place or part of the world

Synonyms:

foreign; strange

Context example:

on business in a foreign city

Similar:

adventive (not native and not fully established; locally or temporarily naturalized)

alien; exotic (being or from or characteristic of another place or part of the world)

nonnative (of plants or animals originating in a part of the world other than where they are growing)

established; naturalized (introduced from another region and persisting without cultivation)

foreign-born; nonnative (of persons born in another area or country than that lived in)

imported (used of especially merchandise brought from a foreign source)

tramontane (being or coming from another country)

unnaturalised; unnaturalized (not having acquired citizenship)

Attribute:

strangeness; unfamiliarity (unusualness as a consequence of not being well known)

curiousness; foreignness; strangeness (the quality of being alien or not native)

 Context examples 

I am content if I am like the rest, so that no man stops if he see me, or pause in his speaking if he hear my words, 'Ha, ha! a stranger!'

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Toto only wagged his tail; for, strange to say, he could not speak.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

It would not affect me in the case of a stranger.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The sight of it made her start; and, forgetting everything else, she stood gazing on it in motionless wonder, while these thoughts crossed her: This is strange indeed!

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

It may seem strange that salt can make the ocean denser, but you can see for yourself how this works by adding plain old table salt to a glass of water.

(Ganymede may harbor 'club sandwich' of oceans and ice, NASA)

It would have been strange if I had not gone.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

"It is not strange," an Indian was saying.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

He was moving away himself, when his eyes lit upon a strange sight, and one which sent a tingling through his skin.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“This is very strange!” said Sir Thomas, in a voice of calm displeasure.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

“You understand, seal-hunters are so new and strange to me that I am quite ready to expect anything.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)