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Glite Dictionary
to stand out

to stand out

244 3.2
To be easy to notice because you are different or better
  • phrasal verb
  • /stænd aʊt/
translation icon : destacar
  • To succeed in a competitive job market, you must stand out by showcasing your unique skills.
  • make stand out
  • stand out clearly
  • stand out in particular

But that particular test stands out as very unusual.

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Examples

  • We have to stand out from the crowd.

    Due Season (2022)

  • So a couple of observations stand out for me from this slide.

  • I really think that when you stand out, it's just you being you.

    Grace Beverley

  • I think a way that you can stand out is video.

  • I think that one thing that really stands out is this word perfect.

  • You gotta stand out somehow.

    Undergrads (2022)

  • Only two of the guys really stood out to me: my boss Taylor and my best friend Ray.

    Academic text (2017)

  • You know, Japan stands out in its own category.

    The Knowledge Project Podcast

  • And in this interdependent world, the Church stands out as a relevant international actor.

    Academic text (1991)

  • Their important contributions to countries' national economies and international trade stand out clearly and cannot be overemphasized.

    Academic text (2008)

Synonyms

to jump
vsto stand out
62 4.1

To stand out and catch attention quickly

are noticed generally without the immediate sudden quality
to stick out
vsto stand out
34 3.0

To be easy to notice because it is different

often also implies being superior or especially noticeable
to jump out
vsto stand out
23 3.4

Easy to notice because it looks different or bright

are noticed over time rather than by sudden strikingness
to shine through
vsto stand out
21 4.2

A quality that is easy to see despite problems

refer to being noticed for difference or superiority among others
to stand out in a crowd
vsto stand out
3 3.1

Make people notice you in a group

is used more widely and not only when among groups of people
to leap out
vsto stand out
2 3.9

To be very noticeable and attract attention

are noticed without the sudden vivid grabbing quality
to outstand
vsto stand out
7.9

To be easy to notice among others

adds that notice can come from being different or better

Antonyms

to blend in
20 3.7

Be similar to people or things around you so you are not noticed

to slip under the radar
  • Informal
1 6.3

To go unnoticed by people or officials

How Noticeable

to stand out
244 3.2
to blend in
20 3.7

Surface Forms

stand out infinitive
standing out present participle
stands out third person singular
stood out past
stood out past participle

Morphology

stand + out

The meaning 'to be easily noticed' is directly derivable from combining 'stand' (to be positioned or remain) with 'out' (outside/away), giving the sense of being outwardly separate or prominent. This verb + particle composition is a common, compositional pattern in English and other languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents is likely to infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Stand out comes from the simple picture of someone who stands in front or out from a group so people can see them easily. That's why stand out means 'to be easily noticed'.