outstanding
Outstanding means something is really excellent or still waiting to be finished.
Explanation at your level:
You use outstanding to say something is very, very good. If you draw a picture and your teacher says it is outstanding, they are very happy with your work. It is a special word for 'great'.
When you do a task very well, we call it outstanding. You can also use it for money. If you have an outstanding bill, you need to pay it soon. It is a common word in school and shops.
Outstanding is a great adjective to improve your writing. Instead of saying 'very good', use 'outstanding'. In business, it means something is not finished, like an outstanding task on your to-do list.
This word is perfect for professional contexts. Use it to praise outstanding work or to discuss outstanding issues in a meeting. It is more formal than 'amazing' and carries more weight in academic or corporate settings.
At this level, notice the nuance. Outstanding implies a standard of excellence that distinguishes the subject from its peers. In legal or financial English, it is a precise term for liabilities or claims that remain unresolved. Using it correctly shows you understand both the celebratory and the technical registers of English.
The etymological roots of outstanding reflect a transition from spatial prominence to qualitative superiority. In literary contexts, it can describe a figure who 'stands out' against a background. Mastery involves knowing when to use it as a superlative versus a descriptor of 'unsettled' status, ensuring no ambiguity in complex reports or formal correspondence.
Palabra en 30 segundos
- Means exceptionally good.
- Means unpaid or unfinished.
- Common in professional settings.
- Adjective form only.
Hey there! Let's talk about the word outstanding. It is one of those cool English words that has two very different meanings depending on how you use it.
First, it is used as a high compliment. If a teacher says your essay is outstanding, they mean it is truly excellent and stands out from the rest. It implies a level of quality that is superior to the average.
Second, it refers to things that are pending. If you have an outstanding debt, it just means you haven't paid it yet. It is still 'out there' waiting to be dealt with. So, context is everything when you hear this word!
The word outstanding comes from the literal combination of 'out' and 'standing.' Back in the 16th century, it literally meant something that was standing out or projecting from a surface.
Over time, the meaning shifted. If something stands out from a crowd, it is physically visible. This evolved into the metaphorical meaning of being 'prominent' or 'excellent.' By the 17th century, the financial meaning emerged, referring to debts that were 'standing out'—meaning they were not yet collected or settled.
It is a great example of how a physical observation turns into a complex abstract concept over hundreds of years of language evolution.
In casual conversation, we mostly use outstanding to praise people. You might hear, 'That was an outstanding performance!' It sounds a bit more formal than just saying 'great' or 'awesome.'
In business or finance, it is a technical term. You will often hear phrases like outstanding balance or outstanding invoice. In these cases, it doesn't mean the bill is 'good'—it means it is unpaid. Always look at the noun following the word to know which meaning is being used.
While 'outstanding' itself isn't always part of a fixed idiom, it is often used in set phrases. 1. Outstanding achievement: A major success. 2. Outstanding warrant: A legal order that hasn't been served. 3. Outstanding contribution: Giving something of great value. 4. Outstanding balance: The remaining amount on a loan. 5. Outstanding success: A result that far exceeds expectations.
Outstanding is an adjective. It doesn't have a plural form because it describes a quality. It is usually placed before a noun (an outstanding result) or after a linking verb (the result was outstanding).
Pronunciation: UK /aʊtˈstændɪŋ/ and US /aʊtˈstændɪŋ/. The stress is on the second syllable: out-STAND-ing. It rhymes with words like standing, landing, and banding. Remember to keep the 't' crisp in the middle!
Fun Fact
It evolved from a physical description of a building part to a financial term for debt.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 't' sounds, stress on second syllable.
Similar to UK, slightly more nasal vowels.
Common Errors
- Missing the 't' sound
- Stressing the first syllable
- Dropping the 'g' at the end
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to use
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avanzado
Grammar to Know
Adjective placement
An outstanding book.
Linking verbs
The book is outstanding.
Articles with adjectives
An outstanding result.
Examples by Level
Your work is outstanding.
Your work = your job/task
Adjective after verb.
He is an outstanding student.
Student = learner
Adjective before noun.
The food was outstanding.
Food = meal
Past tense.
She has an outstanding smile.
Smile = happy face
Descriptive adjective.
The movie was outstanding.
Movie = film
Simple sentence.
You did an outstanding job.
Job = task
Direct object.
The team is outstanding.
Team = group
Collective noun.
That is an outstanding idea.
Idea = thought
Determiner 'an'.
The hotel service was outstanding.
He has an outstanding record in sports.
There is an outstanding balance on my card.
She gave an outstanding presentation.
The view from the top was outstanding.
We have some outstanding issues to fix.
He is an outstanding athlete.
The results were truly outstanding.
The company reported outstanding growth this year.
We still have an outstanding payment to make.
Her outstanding talent was recognized early.
The committee made an outstanding contribution.
There are several outstanding questions from the lecture.
He received an award for outstanding service.
The weather was outstanding for our trip.
The project was an outstanding success.
The athlete's performance was nothing short of outstanding.
Please settle your outstanding invoices by Friday.
She has an outstanding ability to solve problems.
The research provides an outstanding insight into the topic.
There are two outstanding matters regarding the contract.
His outstanding leadership guided the team through the crisis.
The museum has an outstanding collection of art.
The candidate was chosen for her outstanding qualifications.
The professor's outstanding intellect influenced a generation.
The firm is currently managing several outstanding legal claims.
It was an outstanding display of diplomatic skill.
The architect's design is an outstanding example of modernism.
We must address the outstanding discrepancies in the report.
His outstanding dedication to the cause is admirable.
The orchestra gave an outstanding rendition of the symphony.
There remains an outstanding debt to be cleared.
The artist's work is an outstanding manifestation of the era's angst.
The outstanding nature of the evidence left no room for doubt.
Despite the outstanding chaos, he remained calm.
The outstanding features of the landscape are breathtaking.
The outstanding balance of the estate was distributed to the heirs.
Her outstanding contributions to science have been immortalized.
The outstanding complexity of the problem requires a new approach.
The outstanding merits of the proposal were undeniable.
Colocaciones comunes
Idioms & Expressions
"stand out from the crowd"
To be much better than others
Her talent makes her stand out from the crowd.
neutral"outstanding in one's field"
An expert in a specific area
He is outstanding in his field of biology.
formal"clear an outstanding balance"
To pay off a debt
I need to clear my outstanding balance today.
business"leave something outstanding"
To leave something unfinished
Don't leave the paperwork outstanding.
formal"outstanding to the eye"
Visually impressive
The architecture is outstanding to the eye.
literary"an outstanding case"
A case that is not yet closed
The detective has one outstanding case left.
formalEasily Confused
Similar roots
Outstanding is an adjective; standing out is a phrasal verb.
The result is outstanding vs. He is standing out.
Both mean good
Outstanding implies being better than others.
An excellent meal vs. An outstanding performance.
Both mean unfinished
Outstanding is often used for money.
Pending task vs. Outstanding debt.
Both mean visible
Prominent means physically noticeable.
A prominent nose vs. An outstanding student.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is + outstanding
The service is outstanding.
An + outstanding + noun
She is an outstanding leader.
Have + outstanding + noun
I have an outstanding bill.
Outstanding + prepositional phrase
Outstanding in his field.
Remains + outstanding
The debt remains outstanding.
Familia de palabras
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Relacionado
How to Use It
8/10
Formality Scale
Errores comunes
Outstanding is a single adjective, not a phrase.
In finance, it means 'unpaid', not 'good'.
It is already a superlative concept; 'more' is usually redundant.
Outstanding is the adjective; outstandingly is the adverb.
Outstanding is an adjective, not a verb.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a student standing on a desk (standing out) because they are so smart.
When Native Speakers Use It
Use it in formal reviews or to praise major accomplishments.
Cultural Insight
In the UK, 'Outstanding' is the highest grade for schools.
Grammar Shortcut
Use it before a noun for praise, after a verb for status.
Say It Right
Stress the second syllable: out-STAND-ing.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't confuse it with 'standing outside'.
Did You Know?
It comes from the 16th century.
Study Smart
Write two sentences: one for praise, one for debt.
Word Power
Use it instead of 'very good' to sound smarter.
Better Writing
Use it to add professional weight to reports.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Out + Standing = Standing out from the crowd because you are so good.
Visual Association
A gold star on a test paper.
Word Web
Desafío
Use 'outstanding' to describe a friend and a task today.
Origen de la palabra
English
Original meaning: Projecting or standing out
Contexto cultural
None
Commonly used in school reports and annual performance reviews.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At school
- outstanding work
- outstanding student
- outstanding grade
In business
- outstanding balance
- outstanding invoice
- outstanding issues
In sports
- outstanding athlete
- outstanding performance
- outstanding record
In law
- outstanding warrant
- outstanding case
- outstanding claim
Conversation Starters
"Who is an outstanding person you know?"
"Have you ever had an outstanding debt?"
"What makes a performance outstanding?"
"Do you have any outstanding tasks today?"
"Why is it important to have outstanding skills?"
Journal Prompts
Describe an outstanding moment in your life.
Write about a time you had an outstanding task to finish.
Why do some people stand out more than others?
What is an outstanding quality you admire in others?
Preguntas frecuentes
8 preguntasNo, it means 'unpaid' in finance.
Yes, 'an outstanding person'.
Yes, it is more formal than 'great'.
No, it is an adjective.
out-STAND-ing.
Very common for invoices.
It is redundant, but people do it.
Poor or settled.
Ponte a prueba
The student did an ___ job on the test.
Outstanding means very good.
What does an 'outstanding balance' mean?
In finance, it means unpaid.
Outstanding can mean unfinished.
Yes, like an outstanding task.
Word
Significado
The word has two meanings.
The performance was outstanding.
We have an ___ issue to resolve before we leave.
Outstanding means unresolved here.
Which is a synonym for outstanding in a formal context?
Exceptional is a strong synonym.
Outstandingly is the adjective form.
It is the adverb form.
Word
Significado
Context defines the meaning.
The debt remains outstanding.
Puntuación: /10
Summary
Outstanding means either 'truly excellent' or 'still waiting to be finished'.
- Means exceptionally good.
- Means unpaid or unfinished.
- Common in professional settings.
- Adjective form only.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a student standing on a desk (standing out) because they are so smart.
When Native Speakers Use It
Use it in formal reviews or to praise major accomplishments.
Cultural Insight
In the UK, 'Outstanding' is the highest grade for schools.
Grammar Shortcut
Use it before a noun for praise, after a verb for status.
