stand·out
ˈstand-ˌau̇t 
often attributive
: one that is prominent or conspicuous especially because of excellence
stood out; standing out; stands out
1
a
: to stick out from a surface : project
b
: to be prominent or conspicuous
His bright hat made him stand out in the crowd.
also
: to be better or more important in a conspicuous way
His performance really stood out.
One part of the testimony stands out.
2
: to steer away from shore
3
: to be stubborn in resolution or resistance
Examples of standout in a Sentence
Noun
She is a standout among the available candidates.
All the cameras we tested were good, but there was no real standout.
Verb
the relief figures stand out from the wall quite strikingly
Recent Examples on the Web
Denni Hu, Footwear News, 29 Apr. 2026
The following are some standouts from this year’s Alcova.
—Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 29 Apr. 2026
Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 5 May 2026
Its distinctive mansard roof, cast-iron details and granite columns reflected the optimism of the post-Civil War era, and stand out next to its neighboring neoclassical buildings.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for standout
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Noun
Mixed performance was observed at other multinational corporations, with standout brands like SK-II growing at 62 percent in March, and Cetaphil growing at 40 percent.
—Denni Hu, Footwear News, 29 Apr. 2026
The following are some standouts from this year’s Alcova.
—Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
As long as college remains a way for upwardly mobile kids to stand out from one another, and as long as employers believe that a better college degree is a sign of a better potential worker, the American university system should survive, even if teaching methods change.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 5 May 2026
Its distinctive mansard roof, cast-iron details and granite columns reflected the optimism of the post-Civil War era, and stand out next to its neighboring neoclassical buildings.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for standout
Cite this Entry
“Standout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standout. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
standout
1 of 2 noun
stand·out
ˈstan-ˌdau̇t
: one that is well-known or outstanding especially because of excellence
stand out
2 of 2 verb(ˈ)stan-ˈdau̇t
1
: to stick out from a surface : project
2
: to be easily seen or recognized
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