stand out

Verb

stand out (third-person singular simple present stands out, present participle standing out, simple past and past participle stood out)

1. To jut out, protrude (from a surface etc.).

   Synonyms:

   obtrude, outstand, stick out, stick out like a sore thumb

2. (intransitive) To persist in opposition or resistance (against something); to refuse to comply (with someone).
3. (intransitive) To sail in a direction away from shore.
   • 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...
   • 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
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. (intransitive) 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...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...
6. (intransitive) 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