standout

1 of 2

noun

stand·​out ˈstand-ˌau̇t 

often attributive

: one that is prominent or conspicuous especially because of excellence

stand out

2 of 2

verb

stood out; standing out; stands out

intransitive verb

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

Synonyms of standout

Noun

• star
• celebrity
• personality
• notable

Verb

• protrude
• poke
• stick out
• bulge

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

Noun

Former Georgia high school football standouts Josh and Caleb Downs have recently made arguments for Gwinnett County as the best high school football county in America. —Jack Leo, AJC.com, 28 Feb. 2026

For something off-the-touristy-radar, Mazatlán, located along Mexico’s stunning Pacific Coast, is known for its beaches, standout seafood, oceanfront boardwalk and the cobblestone streets of Old Town. —Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026

Verb

While the city is full of historic hotels, this property stands out with contemporary design and a strategic location just steps from the action, but still set slightly apart from the River Walk crowds, ideal for guests who want downtown convenience without the tourist bustle. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2026

There may be endless iterations of the bob, but the Italian version stands out in a mature way. —Amanda Le, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1915, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for standout

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

Kids 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