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stand out

to be noticeably better or different

In Phrasal Verbs

In more detail

1. (verb) to be much more noticeable or impressive than other similar people or things

2. (verb) to stick out or project from a surface

Examples

• 1. Her red dress made her stand out in the crowd.
• 2. The nail stands out from the wooden board.

How to use stand out

Stand out is a phrasal verb with two main uses: the more common metaphorical sense means to be distinctly noticeable or superior compared to others in a group (often positive, implying admirable difference), while the literal sense describes something projecting or being visually distinct from a background. It typically appears in contexts describing appearance, achievement, or comparison.

Common phrases

• stand out from the crowd
• stand out against
• stand out in relief
• stand out for
• really stand out
• stand out visually

Synonyms

stick out · be conspicuous · be prominent · catch the eye · distinguish oneself

Opposites

blend in · fade into the background

Word family

standing out · stood out · stands out

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse stand out with stand out for; stand out means to be noticeable, while stand out for means to be known or recognized specifically for a particular quality or achievement.

Nearby in Phrasal Verbs

set up, sort out, stand for, step down, stick to, sum up

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained