Cool MateOutstanding vs Very good
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Outstanding
Top 1,000 (very common)B2adjective
Very good
Top 1,000 (very common)
| Outstanding | Very good | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/aʊtˈstændɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/aʊtˈstændɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈvɛri ɡʊd//🇺🇸 //ˈvɛri ɡʊd// |
| Meaning | Very good or excellent. | Really nice or great. |
| Example | She received an outstanding performance evaluation from her manager. | The food at this restaurant is very good. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, consider something, particularly, really, truly, be, remain, leave something, still | very good news, very good friend, very good performance |
| Antonyms | mediocre, ordinary, unremarkable | - |
| Common mistakes | Used incorrectly as a noun., Confused with 'outstand' (verb)., 'Outstanding' used in a sarcastic context when it should be genuine. | Using 'very goodly' instead of 'very good', Confusing with 'really good' - both are correct but might sound different in usage, Overuse can make it sound less genuine |
| Usage notes | Use 'outstanding' to describe something that is much better than average. It's appropriate in both professional and casual contexts, but be careful not to overuse it, as it can lose its impact. | Used to express approval or satisfaction. Can be informal among friends, but appropriate in many contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Outstanding vs Very good
What's the difference between Outstanding and Very good?
Outstanding: Very good or excellent. Very good: Really nice or great.
Can you show an example of each?
Outstanding: She received an outstanding performance evaluation from her manager. Very good: The food at this restaurant is very good.
Can I use Outstanding and Very good interchangeably?
Not always. Outstanding and Very good are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.