standout

1 of 2

noun

stand·​out ˈstand-ˌau̇t 

often attributive

: one that is prominent or conspicuous especially because of excellence

stand out

2 of 2

verb

stood out; standing out; stands out

intransitive verb

1

a

: to stick out from a surface : project

b

: to be prominent or conspicuous

His bright hat made him stand out in the crowd.

also : to be better or more important in a conspicuous way

His performance really stood out.

One part of the testimony stands out.

2

: to steer away from shore

3

: to be stubborn in resolution or resistance

Synonyms of standout

Noun

• star
• celebrity
• personality
• notable

Verb

• protrude
• poke
• stick out
• bulge

Examples of standout in a Sentence

Noun

She is a standout among the available candidates.

All the cameras we tested were good, but there was no real standout.

Verb

the relief figures stand out from the wall quite strikingly

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Ohio State standout’s arrest stems from the death of his girlfriend, who has not yet been identified by law enforcement pending family notification. —Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026

The bold two-tone bracelet and contrasting black face make this a standout option. —John Monaco, InStyle, 7 Feb. 2026

Verb

This recipe offers a delicious spin using sweet potatoes to make this appetizer stand out. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026

When nothing stands out, nothing sticks. —Natasha Bazika, Martha Stewart, 4 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1915, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for standout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

standout

1 of 2 noun

stand·​out ˈstan-ˌdau̇t 

: one that is well-known or outstanding especially because of excellence

stand out

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)stan-ˈdau̇t

1

: to stick out from a surface : project

2

: to be easily seen or recognized