/ˌaʊtˈstændɪŋ/
Say it backOutstanding means exceptionally good or remarkable, or not yet completed or resolved. It can describe objects, performances, or actions that stand out due to quality or significance, or tasks that remain unfinished or due. In most contexts it conveys high praise or a pending obligation that awaits completion.
"Her performance was outstanding, earning him a standing ovation."
"There are several outstanding issues on the agenda that we must address."
"The company reported outstanding revenue for the quarter."
Break it as /aʊtˈstændɪŋ/. Stress is on the second syllable: out-STAN-ding. Start with the diphthong /aʊ/ as in “how,” then the /t/ release into the /st/ cluster. The final -ing is /ɪŋ/ with a light, quick -ɪ- before the velar nasal. Mouth: lips neutral, tongue tip for /t/ tap the alveolar ridge, then retract for /st/. Audio reference: imagine the cadence of ‘outstanding’ with a crisp STAN syllable.
Common mistakes: (1) Misplacing stress, saying out-STAN-ding with wrong emphasis; (2) Lengthening the /aʊ/ into a pure /a/ or misproducing the /t/ as a dental or glottal stop in American casual speech; (3) Dropping the /d/ in STAN, giving /ˈaʊtˌstæŋɪŋ/. Correction: rehearse /aʊtˈstæn.dɪŋ/ with a clean alveolar /t/, keep the /d/ in the cluster, and maintain the /ŋ/ at the end. Practicing in chunks helps: out + STAN + ding; use minimal pairs to anchor the /st/ blend.
US: /aʊtˈstændɪŋ/ with rhotic? The /r/ is not involved; the /t/ is clear and the /ɪŋ/ ending is lighter. UK: /ɔːtˈstændɪŋ/ often uses a longer first vowel /ɔː/ and tighter final /ŋ/; AU: /ɒtˈstændɪŋ/ with a broad, rounded starting vowel and a flatter final syllable. Note rhoticity isn’t the key here; the main variation is vowel quality in the first syllable and the vowel in the second syllable, though the stress pattern remains STAN. Use IPA benchmarks as guidance when listening to native clips.
Difficulties stem from the diphthong /aʊ/ in the initial syllable, the rapid consonant cluster /st/ following it, and the immediate /æ/ or /æ/ quality in the STAN portion across accents. The /t/ and /s/ blend can feel tight, and the /ɪŋ/ ending can soften in fast speech. The combination of a diphthong, a consonant cluster, and a high-energy second syllable creates a tricky rhythm and timing challenge. Focus on the three segments separately, then blend.
A distinctive feature is the tight /t/ followed by the /st/ blend immediately before the stressed /æ/ vowel in STAN. This cluster requires precise tongue placement: tip at the alveolar ridge for /t/, then quickly sweep the blade for /st/ without releasing air into a glottal stop. The second syllable carries the lexically stressed vowel, and the ending /ɪŋ/ should not be overly long in fluent speech.
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Outstanding derives from the phrase out standing, where standing is from Old English standan, meaning to be in an upright position or to exist. In early use, outstanding described something that stood out or remained to be settled. By the 17th century, it evolved to mean outstanding in the sense of being outstanding in quality or importance. In banking and accounting, outstanding referred to items that remained due or unsettled on a statement. This dual sense—remarkable or notable, and unresolved or unpaid—coexists in modern English, with context signaling which meaning applies. The prefix out- can intensify or flag extremity, while standing originally spoke to posture, not status; over time, it broadened to denote prominence or persistence. First known uses appear in legal and financial records, then expanding into everyday language as standard usage for exceptional performance or pending tasks.
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Words that rhyme with "outstanding"
-ing sounds
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