protruded; protruding
: to jut out from the surrounding surface or context
a handkerchief protruding from his breast pocket
Did you know?
Since trudere means "to thrust" in Latin, protrude means basically "to thrust forward". If your neighbors' patio protrudes over your property boundary, you may want to discuss it with them. A protruding disc in your spine may have to be operated on sooner or later; superficial protrusions, such as corns or bunions, tend to be less serious than more deeply rooted ones.
Examples of protrude in a Sentence
His lower jaw protrudes slightly.
A handkerchief protruded from his shirt pocket.
Recent Examples on the Web
The front tire was flat, with a screw protruding from it.
—
Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
The protruding exterior door handles are easy to grab with heavy gloves on and look good.
—Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 12 Mar. 2026
The lone camera is a single round lens that protrudes from the upper-left corner of the rear panel.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 9 Mar. 2026
The jaguar growled, whirled and bit off the protruding head of the arrow.
—Delbert L. Chears, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for protrude
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Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
The protruding exterior door handles are easy to grab with heavy gloves on and look good.
—Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 12 Mar. 2026
The lone camera is a single round lens that protrudes from the upper-left corner of the rear panel.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 9 Mar. 2026
The jaguar growled, whirled and bit off the protruding head of the arrow.
—Delbert L. Chears, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for protrude
Cite this Entry
“Protrude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/protrude. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
protrude
verb
pro·trude
prō-ˈtrüd 
protruded; protruding
: to cause to project
the mentalis raises and protrudes the lower lip—Gray's Anatomy
Gray's Anatomy
: to jut out from the surrounding surface
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