normal

Everyday

1. Usual, ordinary or expected; what happens most of the time. tree →
2. Healthy and as it should be: normal temperature. tree →
3. Noun: the usual state: «Things are back to normal». tree →

In the lessons

In health: normal body temperature is about 37 °C; feelings like worry and anger are normal. In science: normal results versus unusual ones. In maths: a normal day, the usual amount. In stories, something «not normal» signals a mystery or problem. Phrases: back to normal, as normal, normal size, it's normal to, perfectly normal, than normal.

Examples

• It's normal to feel nervous on the first day. tree →
• Your normal body temperature is about 37 °C. tree →
• Things went back to normal after the storm. tree →
• I got up earlier than normal. tree →
• It was a normal school day. tree →
• It's normal for babies to cry. tree →
• Normally we walk to school. tree →
• The ice cream was twice its normal price. tree →

Note

Opposites: unusual, strange, abnormal. «Normal» does not mean «good» or «right» — different families can do things differently and all be fine. In maths «than normal» compares with the usual amount: «twice the normal price» = normal price × 2.