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.
Job seekers are looking to stand out by gaining new AI-related skills or by simply adding AI buzzwords to their work history.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
Hammerheads stand out from other shark species by the distinctive shape of their heads, which stick out perpendicular to their bodies in the shape of, well, a hammer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
Of course, it’s always been the case that to stand out in the hiring process one needs to offer something that other job candidates don’t.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
A platform where users have more control, or simply feel less overwhelmed, could stand out in a crowded market.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
The genius inventor didn’t want to stand out anymore.
From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles
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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.