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
In an August 2022 stickup, an Oakland cannabis dispensary had lost an estimated $100,000. Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025 Man gets 5 years in Cedar Lake robbery A Gary man got 5 years in a plea deal earlier this month for a Cedar Lake stickup. Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2025
Verb
The cousin of a Staten Island driver accused of killing his friend in a high-speed drag racing crash in New Jersey stuck up for his relative Thursday, saying that the young BMW driver wasn’t racing or trying to flee the country. Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2025 Kitty starts giggling, as Mia remains frozen, not moving a muscle, her ears flat on her head and rump stuck up into the sky. Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 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 27 Aug. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!