Outstanding vs. Brilliant — What's the Difference?

"Outstanding" is a song originally performed by The Gap Band and written by member Raymond Calhoun. The song originally appeared on the group's platinum-selling 1982 album Gap Band IV. It is one of their signature songs and biggest hits, reaching the number one spot on the U.S. R&B Singles Chart in February 1983.

Full of light; shining.

Exceptionally good

Relating to or being a hue that has a combination of high lightness and strong saturation.

Not yet paid, resolved, or dealt with

Sharp and clear in tone

Excellent or exceptionally good

Glorious; magnificent

Noticeable or conspicuous

Superb; wonderful

Still in existence; not settled or resolved

Having or showing unusual and impressive intelligence

Publicly issued and sold

A precious gem, especially a diamond, finely cut in any of various forms with numerous facets.

Present participle of outstand

Shining brightly.

Prominent or noticeable; standing out from others.

(of a colour) Both bright and saturated.

Exceptionally good; distinguished from others by its superiority.

(of a voice or sound) Having a sharp, clear tone

Projecting outwards.

(British) Of surpassing excellence.

Unresolved; not settled or finished.

(British) Magnificent or wonderful.

Owed as a debt.

Highly intelligent.

That stands out; undischarged; uncollected; not paid; as, outstanding obligations.

A finely cut gemstone, especially a diamond, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to maximize light return through the top (called "table") of the stone.

Conspicuously excellent; markedly superior; distinguished.

The size of type between excelsior and diamond, standardized as 4-point.

So prominent so as to attract notice; conspicuous; usually but not always in a good sense.

Most hummingbird species of the genus Heliodoxa.

Distinguished from others in excellence;

A kind of cotton goods, figured on the weaving.

Having a quality that thrusts itself into attention;

Sparkling with luster; glittering; very bright; as, a brilliant star.

Of major significance or importance;

Distinguished by qualities which excite admiration; splendid; shining; as, brilliant talents.

Owed as a debt;

Exceedingly intelligent, or of distinguished accomplishment in a field; - as, a brilliant chemist.

A diamond or other gem of the finest cut, formed into faces and facets, so as to reflect and refract the light, by which it is rendered more brilliant. It has at the middle, or top, a principal face, called the table, which is surrounded by a number of sloping facets forming a bizet; below, it has a small face or collet, parallel to the table, connected with the girdle by a pavilion of elongated facets. It is thus distinguished from the rose diamond, which is entirely covered with facets on the surface, and is flat below.

The smallest size of type used in England printing.

A kind of cotton goods, figured on the weaving.

Of surpassing excellence;

Having or marked by unusual and impressive intelligence;

Characterized by or attended with brilliance or grandeur;

Having striking color;

Full of light; shining intensely;

Clear and sharp and ringing;