B2adjective1K

Outstanding

UK /["/aʊtˈstændɪŋ/"]/US /["/aʊtˈstændɪŋ/"]/

Definition

extremely good; excellent

In simple words: Very good or excellent.

Examples

  • She received an outstanding performance evaluation from her manager.
  • The movie was outstanding and kept the audience engaged throughout.
  • There are a few outstanding payments that need to be cleared by the end of the month.
  • The company has several outstanding invoices that customers have yet to pay.
  • His outstanding talents were recognized with an award.
  • We still have some outstanding issues to resolve before the project is complete.
  • The view from the top of the mountain was outstanding and breathtaking.

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.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of 'out' as 'exit' and 'standing' as 'standing out' – something that stands out is impressive.

Collocations

  • be
  • consider something
  • particularly
  • really
  • truly
  • be
  • remain
  • leave something
  • still

Synonyms

  • prominent

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.