Definition

1. Verb (transitive):

   • To endure or tolerate something unpleasant: To continue to accept or withstand an undesirable situation or person over a period of time.
   • To cause to protrude: To push or thrust something outward so that it extends beyond a surface.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To be prominent or conspicuous: To be highly noticeable or visible.
   • To extend outward: To project or jut out from a surface or main body.

Usage Examples

• Verb (transitive):

  • She decided to stick out the boring lecture until the end. (She decided to endure the boring lecture.)
  • He stuck his tongue out at his sister. (He caused his tongue to protrude.)

• Verb (intransitive):

  • His bright orange hat really sticks out in the crowd. (His hat is very noticeable.)
  • The balcony sticks out from the side of the building. (The balcony extends outward from the building.)

Advanced Usage

• "to stick it out": To persist with a difficult or unpleasant situation until it is finished.
  • The training was tough, but I'm determined to stick it out.
• "to stick out like a sore thumb": To be very obvious or conspicuous in an awkward or unsuitable way.
  • Wearing a formal suit to the beach made him stick out like a sore thumb.

Variants and Related Words

• Stickout (noun, informal): A person or thing that is conspicuously different or superior.
  • She was a real stickout in the competition.
• Outstick (verb, rare): A less common variant meaning to protrude.

Synonyms

• Endure, tolerate, bear (for the sense of withstanding).
• Protrude, jut, project, extend (for the sense of extending outward).
• Stand out, be conspicuous (for the sense of being noticeable).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Stick out for: To insist on or hold out for something, especially in a negotiation.
  • The workers are sticking out for a better pay raise.
• Stick out against: To resist or oppose something firmly.
  • The community stuck out against the new development plans.

Related Idioms

• Stick your neck out: To take a risk or put yourself in a vulnerable position by acting or speaking boldly.
  • I'm sticking my neck out by supporting this new idea.

Verb

1. put up with something or somebody unpleasant
   • I cannot bear his constant criticism
   • The new secretary had to endure a lot of unprofessional remarks
   • he learned to tolerate the heat
   • She stuck out two years in a miserable marriage
2. be highly noticeable
3. extend out or project in space
   • His sharp nose jutted out
   • A single rock sticks out from the cliff