stand·out
ˈstand-ˌau̇t 
often attributive
: one that is prominent or conspicuous especially because of excellence
stood out; standing out; stands out
1
a
: to stick out from a surface : project
b
: to be prominent or conspicuous
His bright hat made him stand out in the crowd.
also
: to be better or more important in a conspicuous way
His performance really stood out.
One part of the testimony stands out.
2
: to steer away from shore
3
: to be stubborn in resolution or resistance
Examples of standout in a Sentence
Noun
She is a standout among the available candidates.
All the cameras we tested were good, but there was no real standout.
Verb
the relief figures stand out from the wall quite strikingly
Recent Examples on the Web
Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
There are other variables, too, like the inclusion of summer 2025 signing Florian Wirtz and how his arrival has altered the team’s balance, and how opponents have figured out how to nullify the threat of Ryan Gravenberch after his standout displays in the 2024-25 title-winning season.
—Gregg Evans, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Carmine Gallo, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Aside from its size, which Christie’s claims is the largest drip painting still in private hands, Number 7A stands out for its exceptional provenance, having come from the collection of the late Newhouse and his wife Victoria, who both regularly appeared on ARTnews Top 200 collector list.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for standout
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Former UConn standout Olivia Nelson-Ododa, stepping into the starting lineup in Griner’s place, also had a strong night finishing with 14 points, six rebounds and three assists shooting 5-for-7.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
There are other variables, too, like the inclusion of summer 2025 signing Florian Wirtz and how his arrival has altered the team’s balance, and how opponents have figured out how to nullify the threat of Ryan Gravenberch after his standout displays in the 2024-25 title-winning season.
—Gregg Evans, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Verb
But in an age of information overload, the leaders who stand out aren’t those who add to the noise.
—Carmine Gallo, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Aside from its size, which Christie’s claims is the largest drip painting still in private hands, Number 7A stands out for its exceptional provenance, having come from the collection of the late Newhouse and his wife Victoria, who both regularly appeared on ARTnews Top 200 collector list.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for standout
Cite this Entry
“Standout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standout. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
standout
1 of 2 noun
stand·out
ˈstan-ˌdau̇t
: one that is well-known or outstanding especially because of excellence
stand out
2 of 2 verb(ˈ)stan-ˈdau̇t
1
: to stick out from a surface : project
2
: to be easily seen or recognized
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
