stick out

verb

stuck out; sticking out; sticks out

intransitive verb

1

a

: to jut out : project

b

: to be prominent or conspicuous

2

: to be persistent (as in a demand or an opinion)

transitive verb

: endure, last entry 1

—often used with it

stuck it out to the end

Synonyms

• bag
• balloon
• beetle
• belly
• billow
• bulge
• bunch
• jut
• overhang
• poke
• pooch [chiefly dialect]
• pouch
• pout
• project
• protrude
• stand out
• start
• swell

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

Naomi Goggin Embrace the unexpected While the couple and their planning team carefully considered every detail, there was one happy accident that sticks out in the groom’s memories. —Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Nov. 2024

Investigators have said Colt Gray carried a semiautomatic assault-style rifle onto a school bus, with the barrel sticking out of his book bag, wrapped up in a poster board. —CBS News, 21 Nov. 2024

They are known for their canine teeth, which stuck out of their mouths to help grab and kill prey. —Charna Flam, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024

Responding cops found Grant, 35, dead, the knife still sticking out of his chest. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 16 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1640, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

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