Meaning & use
outstanding
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparableapproving
Much better than most others, so good that it clearly stands out.
Grammar: Before a noun or after 'be': an outstanding result; her work was outstanding.
Patterns
- outstanding at something
- outstanding in something
She received an award for outstanding service.
The team's defense was outstanding all season.
He is an outstanding teacher who inspires his students.
adjectivenot comparableformalbusiness
Not yet paid, done or settled.
Grammar: Before nouns like debt, or after 'remain': the amount remains outstanding.
Patterns
- outstanding balance
- remain outstanding
There is still an outstanding balance on your account.
Several issues remain outstanding after the meeting.
He paid off all his outstanding debts.
adjectivecomparableformal
Easily noticed because it is different from what surrounds it.
Grammar: Less common; usually describes features.
Patterns
- an outstanding feature
The tower is the outstanding feature of the skyline.
One outstanding detail was the bright red door.
The outstanding characteristic of the book is its humor.
Word forms
| comparative | more outstanding |
|---|---|
| superlative | most outstanding |
Common combinations
- outstanding achievement
- He received a prize for outstanding achievement.
- outstanding balance
- Please pay the outstanding balance by Friday.
- outstanding talent
- The school is full of outstanding talent.
- remain outstanding
- A few payments remain outstanding.
- of outstanding quality
- The wine is of outstanding quality.
- outstanding performance
- The pianist gave an outstanding performance.
Synonyms and how they differ
- exceptional
- Exceptional stresses being unusually good, rare, or an exception, while outstanding emphasizes standing out above the rest.
- excellent
- Excellent is more general praise and doesn't require being compared to others.
- remarkable
- Remarkable means worth noticing, but not always better in quality.
- unpaid
- Unpaid matches the debt sense only, being more plain than outstanding.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: outstanding or outstanding?
outstanding vs outstanding
Be careful that outstanding can praise or mean unpaid, so context is essential, as in 'outstanding invoices'.
Practice
In which sentence does 'outstanding' mean 'still unpaid'?
Choose one answer.
Only the invoice sentence refers to a debt not yet settled. In the others, outstanding means excellent.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “outstanding”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.