stick out — to be very noticeable
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
To be easy to see or recognize because of being different or unusual.
Say it like a native
Textbook Her bright coat was conspicuous among the dark uniforms.
Native Her bright coat really stuck out.
'Stick out' is the everyday verb for being very noticeable; 'conspicuous' is formal.
Pattern: stick out (from/among something)
In use
- Her bright red coat really stuck out in the crowd.daily life
- In my opinion, what makes a good teacher stick out is their ability to connect with students.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I felt I sticked out at the party.
✓ I felt I stuck out at the party.
Irregular past — 'stuck out', not 'sticked out'.
Common collocations
stick out + visibility— like a sore thumb, a mile, in the crowd, badly
Don't confuse it
'Stand out' is often more positive, while 'stick out' can suggest something is awkward or doesn’t belong.
Related
- stick out (to extend outward) — Another meaning of 'stick out' is 'to extend outward'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.