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

Eight years later, one memory sticks out. —Liam Tharme, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026

In Beijing, Elliott placed fourth in banked slalom and sixth in snowboard cross with half an inch of his femur bone sticking out of his leg. —Jacob Louraine, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026

Their heads, cooled with ice packs, stick out of the machine. —Will Stone, NPR, 6 Mar. 2026

Choose storage that blends with the architecture, and doesn't stick out—like cabinetry that matches the tone of the wall. —Adrienne Jordan, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 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