outstanding
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
exceptionally good and much better than others.
distinguished by superiority; remarkably excellent or distinguished.
Simple“The young pianist gave an outstanding performance that the audience loved.”
In context“The researcher was recognized for her outstanding contribution to the field of molecular biology, having published three ground-breaking papers in a single year.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
not yet paid, solved, or finished.
remaining unsettled, unpaid, or unresolved. Often used in financial or administrative contexts.
Simple“Please pay any outstanding bills before you leave the apartment.”
In context“The company still has several outstanding legal issues that must be resolved before the merger can be finalized.”
UsageFrequently used with nouns like 'debt', 'balance', 'issue', or 'invoice'.
- 03 C1 Advanced
clearly very important or easy to see.
prominent or conspicuous; standing out from a background or group.
Simple“The tower is the most outstanding feature of the city skyline.”
In context“The most outstanding characteristic of the local architecture is the use of red volcanic stone in the foundations of every building.”
SynonymsAntonyms
“The WPGA Tour of Australasia said Bang, who turned professional at the end of 2025, was an "outstanding young talent".”
“Photograph: Richard Bierton/Every Second Media/Shutterstock The 23-year-old left-sided central defender Muharemovic has looked outstanding in pre-season.”
From outstand, equivalent to out- + standing or outstand + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.