stick

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈstik 

1

: a woody piece or part of a tree or shrub: such as

a

: a usually dry or dead severed shoot, twig, or slender branch

b

: a cut or broken branch or piece of wood gathered for fuel or construction material

2

a

: a long slender piece of wood or metal: such as

(1)

: a club or staff used as a weapon

(2)

: walking stick

b

: an implement used for striking or propelling an object in a game

c

: something used to force compliance

d

: a baton symbolizing an office or dignity

also : a person entitled to bear such a baton

3

: a piece of the materials composing something (such as a building)

4

: any of various implements resembling a stick in shape, origin, or use: such as

a

: composing stick

b

: an airplane lever operating the elevators and ailerons

c

: the gearshift lever of an automobile

5

: something prepared (as by cutting, molding, or rolling) in a relatively long and slender often cylindrical form

a stick of candy

a stick of butter

6

a

: person, chap

b

: a dull, inert, stiff, or spiritless person

7

sticks plural : remote usually rural districts regarded especially as backward, dull, or unsophisticated : boondocks

8

: an herbaceous stalk resembling a woody stick

celery sticks

9

: mast entry 1 sense 1

also : yard entry 1 sense 4

10

: a piece of furniture

11

a

: a number of bombs arranged for release from a bombing plane in a series across a target

b

: a number of parachutists dropping together

12

slang : a marijuana cigarette

13

a

: punishment or the threat of punishment used to force compliance or cooperation

choosing between the carrot and the stick

b

British : criticism, abuse

sticklike

ˈstik-ˌlīk 

adjective

Illustration of stick

• a lacrosse
• b ice hockey
• c field hockey

stick

2 of 4

verb (1)

sticked; sticking; sticks

transitive verb

: to hit or propel (something, such as a hockey puck) with a stick

stick

3 of 4

verb (2)

stuck ˈstək  ; sticking

transitive verb

1

a

: to pierce with something pointed : stab

b

: to kill by piercing

2

: to push or thrust so as or as if to pierce

3

a

: to fasten by thrusting in

b

: impale

c

: push, thrust

4

: to put or set in a specified place or position

5

: to furnish with things fastened on by or as if by piercing

6

: to attach by or as if by causing to adhere to a surface

7

a

: to compel to pay especially by trickery

got stuck with the bar bill

b

: overcharge

8

a

: to halt the movement or action of

b

: baffle, stump

9

a

: cheat, defraud

b

: to saddle with something disadvantageous or disagreeable

is still stuck with that lousy car

10

: to execute (a landing) flawlessly in gymnastics

intransitive verb

1

: to hold to something firmly by or as if by adhesion:

a

: to become fixed in place by means of a pointed end

b

: to become fast by or as if by miring or by gluing or plastering

stuck in the mud

2

a

: to remain in a place, situation, or environment

b

: to hold fast or adhere resolutely : cling

she stuck to her story

c

: to remain effective

d

: to keep close in a chase or competition

3

: to become blocked, wedged, or jammed

4

a

: balk, scruple

b

: to find oneself baffled

c

: to be unable to proceed

5

: project, protrude

stick

4 of 4

noun (2)

1

: a thrust with a pointed instrument : stab

2

a

: delay, stop

b

: impediment

3

: adhesive quality or substance

Phrases

stick in one's craw

: to irritate, nag at, or obsess one

stick it to

: to treat harshly or unfairly

stick one's neck out

: to make oneself vulnerable by taking a risk

stick to one's guns

: to maintain one's position especially in face of opposition

stuck on

: infatuated with

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• boondocks
• boonies [slang]
• country
• countryside
• nowhere

Verb (2)

• adhere
• cleave
• cling
• hew

Choose the Right Synonym for stick

stick, adhere, cohere, cling, cleave mean to become closely attached.

stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together.

couldn't get the label to stick

adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together.

antibodies adhering to a virus

cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass.

eggs will make the mixture cohere

cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils.

clinging to a capsized boat

cleave stresses strength of attachment.

the wet shirt cleaved to his back

Examples of stick in a Sentence

Noun (1)

grew up in the sticks and is used to traveling miles just to get a loaf of bread

Verb (2)

those magnets are strong enough to stick to the refrigerator without any problems

you can stick that box in the corner until I figure out where to put everything

could hardly feel the needle when the nurse stuck my arm with it

she got stuck by an unscrupulous seller while using the online auction site

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And while many sticks can be a pain to blend, this does so with ease—buffing out in seconds to reveal a natural, skin-like finish. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 15 Feb. 2025

The Bauer stick Knight uses, for example, is not the same as the CCM model that partner Sergei Bobrovsky prefers. —Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025

Verb

The question of security guarantees is a sticking point for companies, Ukrainian businessmen and analysts said. —Samya Kullab and Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2025

Language learning app Duolingo killed off its plucky mascot, Duo the owl, this week — creating a social media marketing moment that may have more sticking power than recent Super Bowl ads. —April Rubin, Axios, 15 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English stik, from Old English sticca; akin to Old Norse stik stick, Old English stician to stick

Verb (2)

Middle English stikken, from Old English stician; akin to Old High German sticken to prick, Latin instigare to urge on, goad, Greek stizein to tattoo

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1937, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing stick

• anti-stick
• big stick
• cancer stick
• carrot-and-stick
• cinnamon stick
• composing stick
• dead-stick landing
• dip/put/stick a toe in the water
• fish stick
• get on the stick
• get/put/stick your/one's oar in
• joss stick
• make (something) stick
• more than someone can shake a stick at
• pogo stick
• put/stick/raise one's head above the parapet
• put/stick that in your pipe and smoke it
• put/stick two fingers up at someone
• rhythm stick
• self-stick
• shake a stick at
• shooting stick
• stand/stick out a mile
• stick and poke
• stick around
• stick at it
• stick at nothing
• stick blender
• stick by
• stick 'em up
• stick figure
• stick in one's craw
• stick insect
• stick in someone's mind/memory
• stick-in-the-mud
• stick it to
• stick like glue
• stick-on
• stick one's neck out
• stick out
• stick out for (something)
• stick/poke one's nose in/into
• stick shift
• stick/stand out like a sore thumb
• stick to
• stick to beat (someone) with
• stick together
• stick to it
• stick-to-itiveness
• stick to one's guns
• stick up
• stick up for
• stick with
• stick with which to beat (someone)
• swagger stick
• swizzle stick
• the short end of the stick
• the wrong end of the stick
• walking stick

Kids Definition

stick

1 of 2 noun

ˈstik 

1

: a cut or broken branch of twig especially when dry and dead

2

: a long slender piece of wood or metal: as

a

: a club or staff used as a weapon

b

: walking stick sense 1

3

: something used for striking or moving an object in a game

4

: something like a stick in shape or use

a stick of dynamite

5

: something prepared in a long and slender form

carrot sticks

a stick of butter

6

: a person who is dull or lifeless

7

plural : remote usually rural districts

way out in the sticks

stick

2 of 2 verb

stuck

ˈstək

; sticking

1

a

: to stab with something pointed : pierce

b

: to kill by piercing

2

: to cause to penetrate

stuck a needle in my finger

3

a

: to fasten by pushing in : attach

stuck a flower in my buttonhole

b

: to push out, up, or under

stuck out my hand

4

: to put or set in a specified place or position

stuck the cap on my head

5

: to cling to a surface

snowflakes stuck on the windowpane

6

a

: to bring to a halt : prevent the movement or action of

the car got stuck in traffic

b

: baffle entry 1 sense 1, stump

got stuck on the first problem

7

a

: cheat entry 1 sense 1, defraud

b

: to burden with something disagreeable

stuck with the job of cleaning up

8

: to become fixed in place by or as if by gluing

his foot stuck in the mud

9

a

: to remain in a place, situation, or environment

decided to stick where he was

b

: to hold to something tightly : cling

she stuck to her story

10

: to become blocked or jammed

the desk drawer always sticks

11

: to be unable to proceed (as through fear or conscience)

Etymology

Noun

Old English sticca

Verb

Old English stician