Outstandingly means in a way that's so good or noticeable it stands out from everything around it. When a student performs outstandingly on a science project, their work is exceptionally impressive, clearly better than most others. When an athlete plays outstandingly, their performance rises above the ordinary and catches everyone's attention.

The word connects to the idea of literally standing out from a crowd. Imagine a basketball player who's a head taller than everyone else: they stand out physically. When someone does something outstandingly, their effort or skill stands out in the same obvious way. A musician might play outstandingly at a recital, meaning their performance was remarkably skilled. An author might write an outstandingly creative story that feels fresh and original.

You'll often see this word in formal recognition, like when someone graduates with outstanding results from a program or serves outstandingly in their community. It signals achievement that deserves special notice. The related adjective is outstanding, which describes the excellent thing itself rather than how it was done.