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to poke out

to poke out

16 3.5
To stick out from something like a wall or table
  • phrasal verb
  • /poʊk aʊt/
translation icon : sobresalir
  • Chen was standing with his head and shoulder poking out into the street.

My belly is still it pokes out, but it's not too bad.

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Examples

  • His eyes are open and his tongue pokes out between his lips.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • You can see them poking out behind that sheet.

  • I mean, this thing pokes out right here and everything.

  • So this will fit in here like this and hopefully will poke out the front like that.

  • And you can see behind me, poking out of the section are numerous bricks.

  • So these will poke out whether you want to have it right hand, right side mounted or left side mounted.

  • The mare was in her stall, poking her head out, curious.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • We could see the tips of the pine and bamboo trees poking out from the lingering fog.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The slick gray stones poked out of the cliff like the polished claws of an animal.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The kitten poked out its head from under the couch, curious about the noise.

Synonyms

to extend
vsto poke out
265 2.7

To reach out with your body or make something longer

focuses on simple projecting from a surface rather than lengthening action
to reach out
vsto poke out
73 2.7

To stretch a hand toward something to touch it

often describes a brief protrusion rather than an intentional reaching action
to stick out
vsto poke out
61 3.2

To extend beyond a surface or edge

is similar but suggests a small, casual projection rather than general extension
to protrude
vsto poke out
31 5.8

To stick out from a surface or edge

is more informal and implies a simple projecting action rather than formal description
to project
vsto poke out
23 4.3

To stick out from a surface

is more casual and often smaller in scale than this visible extension
to pop out
vsto poke out
21 3.1

To come out quickly from a surface or container

is similar but usually describes a steady extension rather than suddenness
to jut
vsto poke out
19 4.8

To stick out from a surface, as when a balcony hangs over a street

is more everyday and often refers to a smaller or simpler projection
to jut out
vsto poke out
9 3.4

To stick out from a surface like a rock or shelf

is the casual counterpart, implying a less formal projecting sense
to outstretch
vsto poke out
9 3.9

To make something reach forward, like an arm or wing

is more casual and often means a small local projection not full length
to bulge
vsto poke out
7 2.9

To swell so that part of something sticks out

covers simple projecting without implying swelling or roundness
to overhang
vsto poke out
7 3.6

To stick out over the edge of something

is used more generally and does not imply hanging above an edge
to bulge out
vsto poke out
3 3.7

To stick out in a round shape, like a pocket or balloon

is broader and can mean any small projection, not only rounded swelling
to thrust out
vsto poke out
2 4.8

Push something outward suddenly and strongly

is more neutral and often describes small, unforced projecting
to stretch forth
vsto poke out
1 6.1

To reach out a hand or arm toward something to offer help

is broader and can describe objects projecting, not only body movement
to protuberate
vsto poke out
9.9

To stick out from a surface like a bump

is less medical and often means a plain, visible projection
to exsert
vsto poke out
  • Specialized
9.9

To stick out from something

is gentler and often implies a passive or small projection

Antonyms

29 4.8

To move back or become less strong

How Far

to jut
19 4.8
to protrude
31 5.8
to poke out
16 3.5
to project
23 4.3

Surface Forms

poke out infinitive
poked out past
poked out past participle
poking out present participle
pokes out third person singular

Morphology

poke + out

The meaning 'to extend, stick, or project outward' is directly and literally derived from combining 'poke' (to push or prod) with 'out' (away from the interior). This particle-verb pattern is a common and transparent compositional structure in English (and in many other languages), so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

The verb poke out comes from the simple picture of pushing something so it sticks out, imagine you poke a curtain and the end comes out, or a branch pokes out between fence boards. So poke out means 'to stick out'.