stick out

verb

stuck out; sticking out; sticks out

intransitive verb

1

a

: to jut out : project

b

: to be prominent or conspicuous

2

: to be persistent (as in a demand or an opinion)

transitive verb

: endure, last entry 1

—often used with it

stuck it out to the end

Synonyms

• bag
• balloon
• beetle
• belly
• billow
• bulge
• bunch
• jut
• overhang
• poke
• pooch [chiefly dialect]
• pouch
• pout
• project
• protrude
• stand out
• start
• swell

Examples of stick out in a Sentence

no feet sticking out in the aisles, please

managed to stick out the whole race despite her bad knee

Recent Examples on the Web

Among the entire roster, Orlando Arcia stuck out like a sore thumb for his poor performance. —Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025

But the story that sticks out was from spring training in 1997. —Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025

Editors’ Picks The thing that sticks out is the omission of Sara Lownds — Sara Dylan. —Marc Tracy, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2025

But without such context, certain jokes stick out like sore thumbs. —Alison Herman, Variety, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1640, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

stick out

verb

1

a

: to extend out : project

b

: to be noticeable

you will certainly stick out with that red hat and coat

2

: to put up with : endure

stuck it out to the bitter end