How to pronounce outstanding
Say it like owt-STAN-ding. Outstanding has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce outstanding. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- owt
- STAN
- ding
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Outstanding pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- owtGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- STANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- dingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of outstanding
American and British speakers say outstanding in essentially the same way: /ˌaʊtˈstændɪŋ/ in the US and /ˌaʊtˈstændɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: owt-STAN-ding.
What does outstanding mean?
- distinguished from others in excellence“did outstanding work in human relations”“an outstanding war record”
- having a quality that thrusts itself into attention“an outstanding fact of our time is that nations poisoned by anti semitism proved less fortunate in regard to their own freedom”“a new theory is the most prominent feature of the book”
- owed as a debt“outstanding bills”“the amount still owed”
Where does outstanding come from?
From outstand, equivalent to out- + standing or outstand + -ing.
Words that rhyme with outstanding
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of outstanding.
Questions about saying outstanding
How do you pronounce outstanding?
Say owt-STAN-ding. The American pronunciation is /ˌaʊtˈstændɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˌaʊtˈstændɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in outstanding?
Outstanding has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STAN). Broken into parts: owt · STAN · ding.
Do Americans and Brits say outstanding the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌaʊtˈstændɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˌaʊtˈstændɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.