outstanding

outstanding — adjective

1. extremely good in a way that is easy to notice

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

extremely good in a way that is easy to notice

Example

Mina gave an outstanding speech at the school science fair.

outstanding + performance noun

The young doctor did outstanding work during the storm last winter.

Common collocations
  • outstanding achievement
  • outstanding performance
  • outstanding student
  • outstanding service
  • outstanding work
Synonyms
  • excellent

    a very close everyday synonym for quality that is extremely high

  • exceptional

    stresses that something is far above the usual level

  • remarkable

    focuses on something impressive enough to deserve attention

  • impressive

    slightly broader and often stresses the effect on other people

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

an outstanding performance

outstanding service

be outstanding

be outstanding in + area

Usage Note

Common with nouns such as work, service, student, performance, and achievement. Distinguish from sense 3, which is about being especially noticeable or important, not simply very good.

Common Mistakes

The school gave Maya an outstanding bill for her grades.
The school gave Maya an outstanding award for her grades.
In this sense, outstanding praises quality; it does not mean unpaid.

2. not yet dealt with, paid, or completed

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

not yet dealt with, paid, or completed

Example

We still have two outstanding bills from the move last month.

outstanding bills

Two questions remained outstanding after the meeting ended.

remain outstanding

Common collocations
  • outstanding balance
  • outstanding bill
  • outstanding debt
  • outstanding payment
  • outstanding question
Synonyms
  • unpaid

    used when money is still owed

  • unfinished

    used when work or a task has not been completed

  • unresolved

    used when a question, problem, or complaint is not settled

  • pending

    slightly more formal, often used for decisions or official matters

Antonyms
  • paid

    money has already been given

  • settled

    a question, debt, or problem has been dealt with

Grammar Patterns

outstanding bill

outstanding balance

remain outstanding

still be outstanding

Usage Note

Often appears with bill, debt, balance, payment, question, complaint, and issue. Distinguish from sense 3: an outstanding feature is easy to notice, but an outstanding bill or question is one that still needs action.

Common Mistakes

She is outstanding the payment.
The payment is still outstanding.
In this sense, outstanding describes the unpaid or unfinished thing, not the person doing the action.

3. especially easy to notice or important compared with other things

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

especially easy to notice or important compared with other things

Example

One outstanding feature of the kitchen is the long wooden table.

collocation: outstanding feature

One outstanding point in the report is the lack of bus shelters.

outstanding point in + report

Common collocations
  • outstanding fact
  • outstanding feature
  • outstanding landmark
  • outstanding point
  • outstanding reason
Synonyms
  • prominent

    stresses that something stands out clearly from what is around it

  • notable

    used for something worth noticing or mentioning

  • major

    focuses more on importance than on visibility

  • striking

    stresses a strong visual or mental effect

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

an outstanding feature

an outstanding reason

the most outstanding building

Usage Note

Usually before nouns like feature, fact, reason, point, and landmark. Distinguish from sense 1: an outstanding student is excellent, while an outstanding feature is the one that stands out most clearly.

Common Mistakes

The essay has one outstanding bill.
The essay has one outstanding point.
This sense is about a main or noticeable part, not unpaid money.

Word family

  • outstand
    verbC2
  • outstandingly
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

For sense 1, outstanding is a strong praise word for quality that is easy to notice. Excellent is the closest everyday synonym and fits almost any good result. Exceptional is stronger and suggests that something is far above the usual level. Remarkable focuses more on the fact that people notice and talk about it. Impressive often describes the effect on other people, so it can be used even when something is not the very best. You can say an outstanding student, an excellent meal, an exceptional talent, or an impressive speech. A helpful contrast is: The nurse gave outstanding care, and her calm voice was especially impressive.

excellent ↗exceptional ↗remarkable ↗impressive ↗

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Outstanding comes from the older verb outstand, formed from out and stand. Earlier uses referred to something that stood out physically or remained unsettled. From that history, English developed both the modern sense of something still unpaid or unfinished and the sense of something that stands out because it is very good or especially noticeable.