stickup

1 of 2

noun

stick·​up ˈstik-ˌəp How to pronounce stickup (audio)
: a robbery at gunpoint : holdup

stick up

2 of 2

verb

stuck up; sticking up; sticks up

intransitive verb

: to stand upright or on end : protrude

transitive verb

: to rob at gunpoint
Phrases
stick up for
: to speak or act in defense of : support

Examples of stickup in a Sentence

Noun He pulled out a gun and shouted, “This is a stickup!”.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The stickup comes amid a nearly 23% drop in robberies in the Bronx’s 44th Precinct, which saw 135 robberies as of April 27 compared to 175 in the same time period last year, according to NYPD statistics. John Annese, New York Daily News, 4 May 2025 Today’s stickup artist is after something else: smartphones. Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
If fishing rods are sticking up, lower them as well. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 12 May 2025 Some respond well to those who stick up for themselves. Joyce E. A. Russell, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stickup

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1862, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of stickup was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stickup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stickup. Accessed 31 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

stickup

1 of 2 noun
stick·​up ˈstik-ˌəp How to pronounce stickup (audio)
: a robbery at gunpoint : holdup

stick up

2 of 2 verb
ˈstik-ˈəp
1
: to stand upright or on end : protrude
2
: to rob at gunpoint

More from Merriam-Webster on stickup

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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