stand out

/stænd aʊt/

/stænd aʊt/

Other forms: stood out; stands out; standing out

To stand out is to attract attention, either for the way you look or behave, or because you perform better at something than other people do. If you wear your mime costume to school, you'll definitely stand out.

Your pink hair and rainbow tights will help you to stand out in a crowd of sports fans or businesspeople, while a conservative suit would make you stand out in a group of circus clowns. You'll also stand out from your entire math class if you're the only one to get an A on the midterm. Someone who stands out by displaying excellence is sometimes called a standout.

Definitions of stand out

1. verb

   be highly noticeable
   synonyms: jump, jump out, leap out, stick out

   type of:

   appear, look, seem

   give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
2. verb

   distinguish oneself
   synonyms: excel, surpass

   types:

   exceed, go past, overstep, pass, top, transcend

   be superior or better than some standard

   outrank, rank

   take precedence or surpass others in rank

   excel at, shine at

   be good at
3. verb

   be stubborn in resolution or resistance
   type of:

   hold out, resist, stand firm, withstand

   stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something
4. verb

   steer away from shore, of ships
   type of:

   channelise, channelize, direct, guide, head, maneuver, manoeuver, manoeuvre, point, steer

   direct the course; determine the direction of travelling