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.
-
standing out; projecting.
a stiff, outstanding fabric.
-
Archaic. that resists or opposes.
adjective
-
superior; excellent; distinguished
-
prominent, remarkable, or striking
-
still in existence; unsettled, unpaid, or unresolved
-
(of shares, bonds, etc) issued and sold
-
projecting or jutting upwards or outwards
Other Word Forms
- outstandingly adverb
- outstandingness noun
Etymology
Origin of outstanding
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.
Investors in the nontraded business development company had sought to redeem 21.9% of the shares outstanding last quarter.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
Under the terms of the arrangement, Biogen will pay $41 a share for all shares outstanding of Apellis—a steep premium to the stock’s closing price of $17.09 on Monday.
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
Rocket Lab had more than 567 million shares outstanding as of Feb. 20.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026
Chapman passed this vetting despite there also being an outstanding complaint about her.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
“And now that we’ve recognized outstanding students in each subject area, it’s time for the award that recognizes outstanding achievement across all subject areas,” Dr. Cohen says.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
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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.