stick out

present singular third person sticks out · participle present sticking out · participle past stuck out · past stuck out

1. transitiveTo protrude.

   He stuck out his tongue at me.

   Synonyms: obtrude

2. intransitiveTo protrude; to extend beyond.

   His tongue was sticking out.

   3 more examples

   I can fit the pipe in my car, but one end will stick out from the back.

   Their feet padded softly on the ground, and they crept quite close to him, twitching their noses, while the Rabbit stared hard to see which side the clockwork stuck out, for he knew that people who jump generally have something to wind them up. But he couldn't see it. They were evidently a new kind of rabbit altogether.

   1921 June, Margery Williams, “The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real”, in Harper’s Bazar, volume LVI, number 6 (2504 overall), New York, N.Y.: International Magazine Company, →ISSN, →OCLC

   "Your house did, anyway," replied the little old woman, with a laugh, "and that is the same thing. See!" she continued, pointing to the corner of the house. "There are her two feet, still sticking out from under a block of wood." Dorothy looked, and gave a little cry of fright. There, indeed, just under the corner of the great beam the house rested on, two feet were sticking out, shod in silver shoes with pointed toes.

   1900 May 17, L[yman] Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Geo[rge] M[elvin] Hill Co., →OCLC

3. idiomaticintransitiveTo be prominent, noticeable, or obtrusive.

   The one red wall really sticks out among all the creamy ones.

   1 more example

   I really wasn't caring, but I felt my eyes staring / At a guy who stuck out in the crowd / He had the kind of body that would shame Adonis / And a face that would make any man proud

   1979, Sister Sledge, “He's the Greatest Dancer”, in We Are Family

   Synonyms: stand out, obtrude, outstand, stand out, stick out like a sore thumb

4. To persist until the end; stick it out.

   Synonyms: abide, aby, astand, endure, go on, lie, prevail, hold on