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

On June 17, 2022, 23 years after Kinney disappeared, a family searching for seashells found a long bone sticking out of the sand on Salmon Creek Beach. —Saleen Martin, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026

Kinney disappeared in 1999 and on June 17, 2022, a family looking for sea shells on Salmon Creek State Beach came across a bone sticking out of the sand. —Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026

What stuck out most, even with edge rusher Arvell Reese and wide receiver Carnell Tate doing on-field drills, were Harbaugh’s interactions with inside linebacker Sonny Styles and safety Caleb Downs. —Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026

Another video shows men digging through rubble where an arm is sticking out. —Marin Scott, NBC news, 24 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