stick
stick
Pronunciation
Phonetic Spelling
The IPA phonetic spelling for stick is /stɪk/.
s - The voiceless alveolar fricative /s/, as in 'sun'.
t - The voiceless alveolar plosive /t/, as in 'top'.
i - The near-close near-front unrounded vowel /ɪ/, as in 'sit' or 'pin'.
ck - The voiceless velar plosive /k/, as in 'cat' or 'back'.
Word Form Variations
Noun (Singular): stick
Noun (Plural): sticks
Verb (Base Form): stick
Verb (Third-Person Singular): sticks
Verb (Present Participle): sticking
Verb (Past Tense): stuck
Verb (Past Participle): stuck
Adjective (Related): sticky
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A slender, often cylindrical piece of wood that has been broken or cut from a tree or shrub.
Synonyms: twig, branch, rod, staff, cane
Antonyms: log, plank, board
An implement shaped into a long, thin form for a specific purpose.
Examples: a hockey stick, a walking stick, a drumstick.
Synonyms: pole, staff, baton, club
Antonyms: N/A
A solid block of a substance molded into an elongated shape.
Examples: a stick of butter, a stick of deodorant.
Synonyms: bar, rod, block
Antonyms: N/A
(Informal) Criticism, opposition, or harsh treatment.
Example: He took a lot of stick from the press for his decision.
Synonyms: flak, criticism, abuse, censure
Antonyms: praise, approval, acclaim
Verb
To adhere or cause something to adhere to a surface, typically using an adhesive.
Example: Stick the poster to the wall.
Synonyms: glue, paste, affix, attach, cling
Antonyms: detach, remove, peel, separate
To pierce or puncture an object with a pointed instrument.
Example: She used a pin to stick the balloon.
Synonyms: poke, jab, stab, spear, prick
Antonyms: withdraw, extract, pull
To place or insert something into a specific location, often in a casual or hurried manner.
Example: Just stick the book on that shelf for now.
Synonyms: put, place, set, shove, jam
Antonyms: retrieve, remove, take
To become fixed, lodged, or unable to move freely.
Example: The key will stick if you don't turn it gently.
Synonyms: jam, catch, lodge, bind
Antonyms: free, release, loosen
To persist with or remain committed to a task, idea, or person.
Example: You need to stick to the plan for it to work.
Synonyms: persevere, endure, continue, abide by
Antonyms: abandon, quit, deviate, change
Examples of Use
Real-World Examples of "Stick"
Here are several real-world examples of the word "stick" used across various media and in public discourse.
In Literature 📚
In William Golding's classic novel Lord of the Flies, the word is used in a menacing context to describe a weapon fashioned by the boys.
"Roger sharpened a stick at both ends." (Lord of the Flies, 1954)
In Journalism 📰
Newspaper articles often use "stick" to describe adherence to a plan or policy, especially in politics and economics.
"The central bank is expected to stick with its plan to keep interest rates steady through the end of the year, despite mounting pressure from business leaders." (Adapted from common financial news reporting)
Another common journalistic use is the "carrot and stick" approach to describe a strategy of reward and punishment.
"The administration is employing a carrot-and-stick strategy to encourage compliance with the new regulations." (The Wall Street Journal, October 2025)
In Online Publications 💻
Online food and recipe sites frequently use the term to refer to a standard measurement of butter in the United States (1/2 cup or 4 ounces).
"Melt one stick of unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over low heat before adding the flour to create the roux." (Adapted from numerous online recipes on sites like Bon Appétit or The Food Network)
In Entertainment 🎬
Film
In the animated film Up, the character Dug, a golden retriever with a special collar that translates his thoughts into speech, is easily distracted, embodying a common canine trope.
"I have just met you, and I love you. Squirrel! ... My name is Dug. My master made me this collar. He is a good and smart master and he made me this collar so that I may speak. Squirrel! ... Can I take your stick?" (Up, 2009)
Music
The idiom "sticks and stones may break my bones" is a common theme in music, often used to address bullying and emotional resilience.
"Sticks and stones may break my bones / But chains and whips excite me." (Rihanna, "S&M," 2010)
In Public Discourse 🗣️
In everyday conversation, the phrase "to get the short end of the stick" is a popular idiom used to describe receiving an unfair or disadvantageous outcome in a situation.
"After the team project was graded, I felt like I got the short end of the stick because I did most of the work but everyone got the same grade."
10 Famous Quotes Using Stick
"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." (Theodore Roosevelt)
"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." (English Proverb)
"Roger sharpened a stick at both ends." (William Golding, Lord of the Flies)
"The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are: Hard work, Stick-to-itiveness, and Common sense." (Thomas A. Edison)
"My advice is, stick to your own way of writing." (Beatrix Potter)
"Keep your stick on the ice." (Steve Smith, as his character Red Green)
"A crooked stick will have a crooked shadow." (Japanese Proverb)
"Hit me with your rhythm stick! Hit me! Hit me!" (Ian Dury)
"The stick is a lot more powerful than the carrot." (John Bolton, The National Interest, April 2019)
"You just have to stick to the basics, and the basics are people." (Herb Kelleher)
Etymology
The word stick has ancient roots and its history splits into two parallel paths: one for the noun (the object) and one for the verb (the action). Both, however, come from the same ancient idea.
The Basic Idea: Something Sharp 🗡️
At its very core, the word comes from a Proto-Germanic root, *stik-, which meant "to pierce" or "to be sharp." This single idea is the ancestor of both the thing we call a stick and the action of sticking.
The Noun: The "Stick" Itself 🌳
The first known use of stick as a noun in English comes from Old English, where the word was sticca. A sticca was a small, pointed piece of wood—a twig, rod, or peg. It's easy to see the connection to the root meaning "to be sharp." People saw a pointed branch and named it after its pointy quality.
Over time, the meaning broadened from just a piece of wood to include any long, thin object, like a walking stick, a hockey stick, or a stick of butter.
The Verb: The Action of "Sticking"
The verb also comes from Old English, from the word stician, which meant "to stab, pierce, or prick." This is a very direct descendant of the Proto-Germanic root. The original meaning was quite literal: you would stician something with a spear.
So, how did we get from "stabbing" to the modern meaning of "adhering," like a sticker on a wall?
From Piercing to Being Lodged: If you stab something with a pin, the pin remains fixed or lodged in place. The idea shifted from the action of piercing to the result of being held fast. This is where we get the past tense, stuck. A sword is stuck in a stone.
From Being Lodged to Adhering: From there, the meaning expanded further. The idea of being "fixed in place" no longer required actual piercing. Something could be stuck in the mud (held fast by suction) or, eventually, stuck to a surface with glue (held fast by adhesion).
In short, the noun stick comes from the name for a pointy object, and the verb stick evolved from the action of using a pointy object to pierce something.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Stick
To get the short end of the stick: To receive the least desirable outcome or unfair treatment in a situation.
A stick in the mud: A person who is dull, old-fashioned, and resistant to change or new ideas.
To stick to your guns: To refuse to change your opinion or decision, especially when facing opposition.
The carrot and the stick: A strategy that uses a combination of rewards (the carrot) and punishments (the stick) to motivate someone.
More than you can shake a stick at: A very large or plentiful amount of something.
To stick one's neck out: To take a personal risk, often to help someone else.
Sticks and stones may break my bones...: The beginning of a proverb used to dismiss insults, implying that words cannot cause physical harm.
To stick up for (someone or something): To defend or support a person, idea, or principle.
To stick it to the man: To defy or rebel against authority or an oppressive system.
To stick with it: To persevere or continue with a difficult task.
To stick out like a sore thumb: To be very noticeable because you are different from everyone or everything else.
To stick in one's mind/craw: For something to be persistently memorable or difficult to forget, often because it is annoying.
Speak softly and carry a big stick: A diplomatic approach of negotiating peacefully while having a strong means of force in reserve.
In a cleft stick: To be in a difficult predicament with no easy solution.
The wrong end of the stick: To completely misunderstand a situation or a statement.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of stick from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
