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

Near the middle of the group stands a pint-size teenage Vicky, pale and bleach-blond, sticking out like a sore thumb. — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2026

Everything impacts winning and that’s one of the really big things that sticks out to me. — Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 24 June 2026

The use of Kevlar came as part of Hatfield finding inspiration from the X-15 fighter jet, still to this day the fastest aircraft ever made, while the polarizing tongue protrusion was a nod to Jordan famously sticking out his own while playing. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 23 June 2026

Of course, having six inches of Twizzler sticking out of your mouth might be deemed unprofessional, but at least your hands are free. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 June 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