stand out
Britishverb
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to be distinctive or conspicuous
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to refuse to agree, consent, or comply
they stood out for a better price
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to protrude or project
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to navigate a vessel away from a port, harbour, anchorage, etc
noun
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informal
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a person or thing that is distinctive or outstanding
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( as modifier )
the standout track from the album
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a person who refuses to agree or consent
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Protrude, project, as in Those reliefs stand out from the building walls . [First half of 1500s]
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Be conspicuous, distinctive, or prominent, as in He's so tall that he always stands out in a crowd . [Mid-1800s]
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Refuse to comply, remain opposed, as in The one juror is standing out against a guilty verdict . [Late 1500s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Give me a couple of things that stand out to you that you’re enjoying.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
“Among firms involved in the AI build-out, the hyperscalers and stocks tied to investment in power infrastructure stand out as attractive opportunities.”
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
Fiercely driven to stand out, Mr. Rollins decided that sounding like Sonny Rollins made more sense.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
Among lizards, goannas stand out as the only lineage known to have lost this armour, only to regain it in a remarkable evolutionary twist.
From Science Daily • May 21, 2026
The wall’s bright white paint along the edges really helps the dark red brick stand out.
From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
