# outstanding

/ˌaʊtˈstændɪŋ/ (US) · /aʊtstˈændɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/outstanding
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. excellent

adjective · CEFR B2

exceptionally good and much better than others.

For teachers: distinguished by superiority; remarkably excellent or distinguished.

- The young pianist gave an outstanding performance that the audience loved.
- The researcher was recognized for her outstanding contribution to the field of molecular biology, having published three ground-breaking papers in a single year.

### 2. unpaid or unresolved

adjective · CEFR B2

not yet paid, solved, or finished.

For teachers: remaining unsettled, unpaid, or unresolved. Often used in financial or administrative contexts.

- Please pay any outstanding bills before you leave the apartment.
- The company still has several outstanding legal issues that must be resolved before the merger can be finalized.

Usage: Frequently used with nouns like 'debt', 'balance', 'issue', or 'invoice'.

### 3. very noticeable

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

clearly very important or easy to see.

For teachers: prominent or conspicuous; standing out from a background or group.

- The tower is the most outstanding feature of the city skyline.
- The most outstanding characteristic of the local architecture is the use of red volcanic stone in the foundations of every building.

## Examples

- She did an outstanding job on the presentation.
- The committee gave her an award for her outstanding contribution to the local charity project.
- While the athlete's performance was truly outstanding, the team still faced several outstanding debts that threatened their ability to compete in the upcoming season.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.