stickup

1 of 2

noun

stick·​up ˈstik-ˌəp How to pronounce stickup (audio)
Synonyms of stickupnext
: a robbery at gunpoint : holdup

stick up

2 of 2

verb

stuck up; sticking up; sticks up

intransitive verb

: to stand upright or on end : protrude
hair that sticks up

transitive verb

: to rob at gunpoint

see also stick up for

Examples of stickup in a Sentence

Noun He pulled out a gun and shouted, “This is a stickup!”.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In an August 2022 stickup, an Oakland cannabis dispensary had lost an estimated $100,000. Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025 Man gets 5 years in Cedar Lake robbery A Gary man got 5 years in a plea deal earlier this month for a Cedar Lake stickup. Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2025
Verb
People look out and stick up for one another. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026 Online, peptide pushers are suggesting many more acronyms to add to your nasal regimen, but despite what TikTok insists, not everything should be stuck up your nose. Fiorella Valdesolo, Vogue, 14 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stickup

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1862, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of stickup was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stickup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stickup. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

stickup

1 of 2 noun
stick·​up ˈstik-ˌəp How to pronounce stickup (audio)
: a robbery at gunpoint : holdup

stick up

2 of 2 verb
ˈstik-ˈəp
1
: to stand upright or on end : protrude
2
: to rob at gunpoint

More from Merriam-Webster on stickup

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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