intransitive to continue upwards further than the end of a surface or the main part of an object
You’ve got a bit of hairsticking up at the back.
The oilrigstuck up out of the darkness.
Synonyms and related words
Sticking out
stick out
project
protrude
2
transitive informalto raise something upwards, especially your arm or hand
Maggie stuck up her hand to answer the question.
Synonyms and related words
To change your position
balance
bear yourself
bend
3
transitive mainly Americanvery informalto steal money or goods from a person or place using a gun
an attempt to stick up a localbank
Synonyms and related words
To steal, or steal something
steal
walk off with
rob
4
stick ’em upmainly Americanspokenif someone with a gun tells you to stick ’em up, they are ordering you to raise your arms above your head, usually because they are going to steal money or goods from you
Synonyms and related words
To use a gun
aim
at gunpoint
cock
stick up
phrasal verb
Other entries for this word
stick-upnoun
stick up forphrasal verb
Word Forms
present tense
I/you/we/they
stick up
he/she/it
sticks up
present participle
sticking up
past tense
stuck up
past participle
stuck up
DEFINITIONS4
1
intransitive to continue upward farther than the end of a surface or the main part of an object
You’ve got some hairsticking up in the back.
The oilrigstuck up out of the darkness.
Synonyms and related words
Sticking out
stick out
project
protrude
2
transitive informalto raise something upward, especially your arm or hand
Maggie stuck up her hand to answer the question.
Synonyms and related words
To change your position
balance
bear yourself
bend
3
transitive very informalto steal money or goods from a person or place using a gun
an attempt to stick up a localbank
Synonyms and related words
To steal, or steal something
steal
walk off with
rob
4
stick ’em upspokenif someone with a gun tells you to stick ’em up, they are ordering you to raise your arms above your head, usually because they are going to steal money or goods from you