outstanding
Americanadjective
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prominent; conspicuous; striking.
an outstanding example of courage.
- Synonyms:
- eminent
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marked by superiority or distinction; excellent; distinguished.
an outstanding student.
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continuing in existence; remaining unsettled, unpaid, etc..
outstanding debts.
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(of securities and the like) publicly issued and sold or in circulation.
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standing out; projecting.
a stiff, outstanding fabric.
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Archaic. that resists or opposes.
adjective
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superior; excellent; distinguished
-
prominent, remarkable, or striking
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still in existence; unsettled, unpaid, or unresolved
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(of shares, bonds, etc) issued and sold
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projecting or jutting upwards or outwards
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of outstanding
Explanation
Something outstanding stands out for good reasons. Your outstanding presentation captured everyone's attention; unfortunately, so did the tear in the seat of your pants. An outstanding performance of any kind will impress people, but there's one meaning to outstanding that most of us would rather avoid: that which remains unpaid. Outstanding gift ideas can lead to outstanding debt. Your outstanding mood was ruined when you saw the size of your outstanding credit card balance.
Vocabulary lists containing outstanding
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
GoPro’s roughly $92 million in outstanding debt will be repaid in full upon the deal’s closing, expected by the end of this year.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026
Two players — quarterback Ryan Rakowski and safety Jalen Flowers — have been outstanding in delivering big plays.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
The maker of ChatGPT will also hold a board designation right, as long as it owns more than 5% of outstanding capital stock.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
GameStop said in a May filing that it now controls the equivalent of 6.55% of eBay’s outstanding shares, up from around 5% earlier this year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
Swiftly, and more than a little unexpectedly, he became the most outstanding astronomer of the twentieth century.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
