Skip to main content
to stick

to stick

1 9.3
To push small objects into a surface to decorate it
  • verb
  • /stɪk/
: clavar
  • She used colorful stickers to stick decorations on her school project.

Examples

  • Sometimes I stick leaves on my hair.

  • I like to stick them in things.

  • You can also stick pins in a poppet, to cause pain.

  • We should stick googly eyes on his face, and we should put him in a cage and decorate the cage.

  • Wex came hurrying back with a newspaper sticking out of his pocket.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The artist decided to stick feathers onto the canvas to add texture to her artwork.

  • He carefully stuck the photos onto the scrapbook page to preserve their memories.

Synonyms

to pin
vsto stick
167 1.0

To fasten something with a small pointed object

pierces to cover and decorate rather than just fasten or hold
to sink
vsto stick
47 4.7

To press something deeply into a surface

pierces the surface to decorate by covering it, not just press in
to adorn
vsto stick
29 4.9

To put decorations on something to make it look more beautiful

pierces the surface specifically to cover and decorate with objects
to affix
vsto stick
21 5.0

To attach something to another thing by sticking or fastening it

pierces the surface to secure decorations rather than simply fastening
to imbed
vsto stick
  • UK
12 6.0

To put something firmly into a material so it stays there

pierces the surface to cover with objects rather than deep embedding
to tack onto
vsto stick
5 5.4

To fasten something to a surface with a small nail or pin

pierces the surface to fix decorations instead of fastening them on top
to chase
vsto stick
  • Specialized
1 9.1

To cut a narrow groove into a wall or other surface

pierces the surface to place objects rather than cutting grooves first
to inlay
vsto stick
1 5.9

To decorate a surface by fitting pieces of a different material into it

pierces the surface to cover it with objects instead of embedding
to onlay
vsto stick
1 8.8

To attach a thin decorative piece to the surface of something

pierces the surface to fix decorations instead of placing coverings on top
to bespangle
vsto stick
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To cover or decorate something with small shiny things

pierces the surface to attach objects rather than merely laying them on

Antonyms

to strip
  • Specialized
39 6.3

Remove a substance or part from material like soil

Idioms

8 7.1

To get a worse or unfair result than others

stick in the mud
  • Offensive
8 8.1

A person who does not like change or try new things

5 9.8

To openly oppose people in power to cause them trouble

To finish a jump or move smoothly without falling

stick-in-the-mud
  • Offensive
3 8.3

A person who does not like new things or change

1 9.7

To start working hard without delay

1 6.5

To be filling and keep you full for a long time

1 9.4

Say or do something on purpose to hurt someone who is already in trouble

1 8.8

Push away a lot of people or fans as a joke about being too popular

Christ on a stick
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A short shocked cry showing disbelief about something ridiculous

1 9.9

A person or thing that looks very ugly, said as a joke

1 9.9

To call someone ugly as a joke

Stay alert and ready to move, like resting a hockey stick on the ice

1 9.9

To be given unfair, unpleasant tasks or treatment

A joking way to say something is very unpleasant or painful

An impossible thing that someone asks for

1 9.9

To become involved in a messy situation and make it worse

1 6.7

Keep supporting your idea when others disagree

To want something that is impossible or not realistic

1 9.9

Very weak and cannot help or lead

To take a risk by saying or doing something that may get you in trouble

To leave a place quickly, often to avoid trouble

To end up by chance with an unpleasant task or in a worse position

To ask for everyone to have an equal chance

An equal chance to be treated the same as others

To look much less attractive after a sudden change

To let strong, uncontrolled feelings make your life worse

9.9

To suddenly understand something you should have noticed earlier

To explain something clearly so someone finally understands

A shout people say when they are very surprised or do not believe something

To create problems for yourself later

9.9

To feel angry or bitter about something unfair that you cannot forget

To have sex or start a romantic relationship with someone who is emotionally unstable and likely to cause trouble

To say or do something embarrassing by accident

8.6

To get involved in other people's business when they do not ask for help

Give full attention to your own work and skills, not other people's tasks

Only work in the area you know well

To follow prepared words when speaking without adding new ideas

Phrasal Verbs

486 3.0

Push something into another thing so it goes inside

465 3.0

Keep doing something without changing it, for example following a plan

420 3.6

Keep doing or supporting something even when it is difficult

to stick around
  • Informal
326 2.9

Stay in a place to wait for something

Stay together and help each other during hard times

113 3.2

To extend beyond a surface or edge

107 1.8

Stay attached to a surface

88 2.7

Put something on a surface so it stays in place

to stick out
  • Informal
63 4.9

To continue in a difficult situation until the end

to stick up
  • Informal
61 4.3

To support someone when others criticize or attack them

to stick by
  • Informal
48 3.6

To stay with and support someone in hard times

42 3.0

To be easy to notice because it is different

to stick it to
  • Informal
38 8.6

Punish or hurt someone to get revenge

Continue doing what everyone agreed without changing it

6 8.4

To rob a person or shop by threatening them with a weapon

3 8.4

To check if food is cooked by poking it with a fork or to say something is finished

to stick in
  • Informal
2 4.1

Quickly add a short remark into a talk or conversation

2 8.0

To get involved in other people's business when not wanted

1 4.1

Stay nearby or wait in a place for a short time

Put on a thick layer of something like paint or makeup

To get involved in other people's business without being asked

Continue following your planned way of eating

Compounds

23 1.0

A long thin piece of fish covered in breadcrumbs and fried or baked

15 1.2

A long stick with a curved blade that players use to hit a puck

14 1.8

A stick used to support a person while walking

11 6.9

A show of force used to make others do what you want

11 2.6

A very simple drawing of a person using a circle for the head and lines for body, arms and legs

hockey stick
  • Specialized
10 4.6

A graph shape that stays flat over time then rises quickly

9 4.0

A car transmission you operate with a gear stick and clutch pedal

8 4.6

A toy with a pole, foot rests, and a strong spring that you jump up and down on

8 1.3

A thin piece of raw carrot eaten as a snack

A small stick for stirring drinks like cocktails in a glass

A long rod with marks for measuring length

3 1.3

A long thin piece of celery that people eat raw as a snack or in salads

ugly stick
  • Offensive
2 9.3

A person or thing that looks very unattractive, often said as a joke

2 5.6

A long thin insect that looks like a twig

licorice stick
  • Archaic
2 8.7

A clarinet often used in jazz bands

2 3.8

A long, thin stick used to hit the white ball in pool and billiards

old stick
  • Offensive
2 9.6

A person who prefers the usual way of doing things and does not accept new ideas

2 3.2

A long thin wooden tool that you use to hit the white ball in pool or billiards

control stick
  • Specialized
1 5.0

A lever a pilot uses to move a plane up, down, left, and right

stick horse
  • Baby Talk
1 2.3

A toy with a horse head on a stick that a child pretends to ride

1 8.2

A thin stick of incense burned in temples or homes during prayers

Pieces of grilled chicken on a wooden stick sold as a quick snack

1 8.1

A hollow tube with small stones inside that makes a rain sound when tilted

1 9.9

A walking stick that hides a long knife inside for use as a weapon

A dried rolled piece of cinnamon bark used to add warm spice to food

walking stick
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A long thin insect that looks like a twig

1 8.2

A curved stick that comes back to the thrower when thrown correctly

1 7.0

A single stick that makes a camera steady for sharper photos

swagger stick
  • Archaic
1 9.8

A short cane carried by army officers to show who is in charge or for ceremonies

clue stick
  • Slang
1 9.9

A pretend object used to give someone a very clear hint about something they missed

A wooden tool used to throw a spear farther and faster

1 8.3

A walking stick with a small folding seat for sitting at outdoor events

A small tree or bush with spiny stems and large leaves

A stick that people use instead of a sword for practice

The pointed end of a stick that can cut or poke

moxa stick
  • Specialized
9.9

A stick of dried plant leaves that people burn near the skin to give warmth in East Asian medicine

gas on a stick
  • Informal
9.9

A very bad taste or smell that makes you want to spit

A long stick with a head used to hit the ball in polo

A curved wooden tool that comes back to the thrower when thrown correctly

size stick
  • Specialized
7.5

A measuring tool used by shoe sellers to measure foot length and width

stick lac
  • Indian
9.9

A dried natural resin scraped from twigs before processing

stick moxa
  • Specialized
9.5

A stick made from dried mugwort leaves that therapists burn near the skin for traditional heat therapy

How Deep

to impale
  • Offensive
32 7.7
to skewer
8 4.6
to stick
1 9.3
prick
19 5.0

Surface Forms

stick infinitive
sticking present participle
sticks third person singular
stuck past
stuck past participle

Etymology

Stick meaning to cover or decorate by piercing a surface comes from the original sense of pushing a sharp object into something, so you 'stick' pins, flags, or beads into a cake or craft to hold or decorate it.