1 B1 neutral
To be very easy to see or notice because of being different from surroundings.
"Her bright red coat made her stand out in the grey winter crowd."
inseparable
stand out
B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
To be clearly noticeable or more impressive than others.
In plain English
To be easy to see or to be clearly better or different from the rest.
What does "stand out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
To be clearly better or more impressive than others.
"Of all the applicants, her portfolio really stood out."
“
You've got to stand out from the crowd.
— Richard Branson, commonly attributed in interviews and Virgin Group publications
inseparable
3 A2 neutral
To physically protrude or project outward from a surface.
"A nail was standing out from the wooden beam, so we hammered it back in."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To physically project outwards beyond a surface.
Actually means
To be easy to see or to be clearly better or different from the rest.
Usage tip
One of the most common phrasal verbs in English. Frequently used in job interviews, writing, and competitive contexts. 'Stand-out' as a compound adjective (e.g., 'a stand-out performance') is also very common.
Words that pair with "stand out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
crowd competition performance candidate color talent
How to conjugate "stand out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
stand out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
stands out
he/she/it
Past simple
stood out
yesterday
Past participle
stood out
have + pp
-ing form
standing out
continuous
Hear "stand out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "stand out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "stand out"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
be conspicuous be noticeable be prominent distinguish oneself excel shine
Keep exploring
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