stick out

verb

stuck out; sticking out; sticks out

intransitive verb

1

a

: to jut out : project

ears that stick out

b

: to be prominent or conspicuous

stuck out in an orange vest

2

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

transitive verb

1

: extend (as a body part) outward

stick out your tongue

2

: endure, last entry 1

—often used with it

stuck it out to the end

Synonyms of stick out

• protrude
• poke
• stand out
• bulge

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

As far as immediate starters go, three prospects stick out with a fourth likely to be a key rotational piece. —Mike Kaye april 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026

Bonded to it are two hydrogen atoms, and sticking out like extra limbs are two pairs of leftover free electrons. —Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 27 Apr. 2026

That was one of the things that stuck out to me. —Andrea Kane, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026

The director, whose father is also hearing impaired, shared the main reasons the opportunity stuck out to him. —Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for stick out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

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