stand out
verb1
To jut out, protrude (from a surface etc.).
2
To persist in opposition or resistance (against something); to refuse to comply (with someone).
- One morning in the early grey of the dawn we stood out to sea to troll for mackerel.1881, P. Chr. Asbjörnsen [i.e., Peter Christen Asbjørnsen], translated by H. L. Brækstad, Round the Yule Log. Norwegian Folk and Fairy Tales, London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, →OCLC, page 181:
- The next day the breeze freshened and the Ibis duly stood out to sea.2008, Amitav Ghosh, Sea of Poppies, Penguin, published 2015, page 23:
1 more example
- Indeed he had no notion that Madame de Seidlits, or her daughter, had a serious intention of standing out against a match which he thought so advantageous to both.1789, John Moore, Zeluco, Valancourt, published 2008, page 131:
4
Obsolete To maintain, to persist in claiming (that).
- She stood out that she was not Edward's mistress until Leonora said that she had seen Edwrad coming out of her room at an advanced hour of the night.1915, Ford Madox Hueffer [i.e., Ford Madox Ford], chapter IV, in The Good Soldier […], London: John Lane, The Bodley Head; New York, N.Y.: John Lane Company, →OCLC:
5
To be prominent or conspicuous; to have special significance.
- She stood out from the other candidates and was offered the job.
- The Scottish midfielder had an impressive game for Villa and his passing and vision stood out throughout.2011 October 1, John Sinnott, “Aston Villa 2 – 0 Wigan”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 22 Mar 2017:
1 more example
- It is time the international community faced the reality: we have an unmanageable, unfair, distortionary global tax regime. It is a tax system that is pivotal in creating the increasing inequality that marks most advanced countries today – with America standing out in the forefront and the UK not far behind.2013 June 7, Joseph Stiglitz, “Globalisation is about taxes too”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, archived from the original on 06 Jan 2021, page 19:
6
To be clearly distinguishable; to be obvious, to be easily noticeable, in contrast to the surroundings.
- Tourist guides often carry umbrellas so that they stand out in a crowd.
- The path led straight across the clearing into another forest, lying upon the verge of which I saw a bit of white. It appeared to stand out in marked contrast and incongruity to all its surroundings, and when I stopped to examine it, I found that it was a small strip of muslin—part of the hem of a garment.1918 September–November, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “The Land That Time Forgot”, in The Blue Book Magazine, Chicago, Ill.: Story-press Corp., →OCLC; republished as chapter VIII, in Hugo Gernsback, editor, Amazing Stories, (please specify |part=I to III), New York, N.Y.: Experimenter Publishing, 1927, →OCLC:
2 more examples
- At Stirling, we obtained a wonderful silhouette view of the Wallace Monument, and the dark line of the Ochil Hills, and the castle stood out clearly against the afterglow of the sunset.1950 January, Arthur F. Beckenham, “With British Railways to the Far North”, in Railway Magazine, page 5:
- A ray of light amid all this nonsense was Gwyn Topham's piece in the Guardian, which was timely, measured, accurate and of appropriate tone. That this single report stood out so clearly as an exemplar is a scathing comment in itself on the volumes of drivel surrounding it.2020 August 26, Nigel Harris, “Comment Special: Catastrophe at Carmont”, in Rail, page 4:
- Synonyms
- obtrude, outstand, stand out, stick out, stick out like a sore thumb
- Derived terms
- stand-out, standout, stand out a mile, stand out like a sore thumb, stand out like dog's balls
- Related terms
- outstanding, stick out, specify
- Hypernyms
- differ