Cool MateExcellent vs Great vs Outstanding
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Excellent
Great
Outstanding
| Excellent | Great | Outstanding | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/aʊtˈstændɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/aʊtˈstændɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | very good or great | very good or impressive | Very good or excellent. |
| Example | Her performance in the play was excellent and received a standing ovation. | This pizza is great and very tasty! | She received an outstanding performance evaluation from her manager. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | appear, be, look, most, really, truly, at, for | be, feel, look, just, really, absolutely, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, really, truly, very, be, feel, look, just, really, absolutely, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great | be, consider something, particularly, really, truly, be, remain, leave something, still |
| Antonyms | poor, bad, substandard | terrible, poor, bad | mediocre, ordinary, unremarkable |
| Common mistakes | Using 'excellent' in a negative context (e.g. 'That was an excellent mistake')., Confusing 'excellent' with 'excellently' (adverb form) in the wrong context., Overusing it when 'good' or 'fine' would suffice. | Using 'great' in a sarcastic way without context., Confusing 'great' with 'grate' when writing., Overusing 'great' instead of finding more specific adjectives. | Used incorrectly as a noun., Confused with 'outstand' (verb)., 'Outstanding' used in a sarcastic context when it should be genuine. |
| Usage notes | Use 'excellent' to describe something that is of very high quality. It is appropriate in both spoken and written English. Avoid using it in overly casual contexts where simpler terms might be more fitting. | Use 'great' to describe something positive or impressive. It's suitable in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using it in a sarcastic tone, as it can change the meaning. | 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. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Excellent vs Great vs Outstanding
What's the difference between Excellent, Great, and Outstanding?
Excellent: very good or great Great: very good or impressive Outstanding: Very good or excellent.
Which is more advanced: Excellent, Great, and Outstanding?
Outstanding is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Excellent, Great, and Outstanding the same CEFR level?
Excellent: A2, Great: A1, Outstanding: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Excellent, Great, and Outstanding?
Excellent: adjective, Great: adjective, Outstanding: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Excellent: Her performance in the play was excellent and received a standing ovation. Great: This pizza is great and very tasty! Outstanding: She received an outstanding performance evaluation from her manager.
Can I use Excellent, Great, and Outstanding interchangeably?
Not always. Excellent, Great, and Outstanding 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.