What is stick? Pronunciation and usage in English

stick means . Learn how to pronounce and use stick through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of stick

sticknoun/verb

/stɪk/
Definition & pronunciation of stick

The word "stick" is pronounced like this:

stɪk

Here's a breakdown:

  • st: Sounds like the "st" in "stop"
  • ɪk: Sounds like the short "i" in "bit"

You can hear it clearly here: https://youglish.com/listen/stick

Would you like me to break down any other words?

Usage and examples with the word stick in English

Let's break down how to use the word "stick" in English! It's a surprisingly versatile word with lots of different meanings and ways to use it. Here's a categorized breakdown:

1. Physical Attachment/Holding:

  • To attach something firmly: “He stuck the poster to the wall with tape.” (meaning glued or fastened)
  • To hold something tightly: “Please stick your hand out so I can shake it.”
  • To remain attached: “The branches stuck out from the tree.” (meaning extended)

2. Movement/Direction:

  • To move in a straight line: "The car stuck to the road despite the rain." (meaning kept going straight)
  • To be stuck (in a place): “I’m stuck in traffic!” (meaning unable to move forward)
  • To be stuck (on something): "The mud stuck to my shoes." (meaning adhered to)
  • To be stuck (in a situation): “I’m stuck with this project until next week.” (meaning unable to escape)

3. Behavior/Personality:

  • To stubbornly persist: “He stuck to his guns, even when everyone disagreed.” (means remained firm in his opinion)
  • To hold a belief: “She sticks to her Catholic faith.” (means conscientiously maintains it)
  • To be stubborn: “Don’t stick to your ways; be open to new ideas.”
  • To be persistent: "He stuck with his dream until he achieved it."

4. Food & Drink:

  • To stick (something) to your ribs: “Grandma always sticks a piece of pie after dinner.” (meaning to eat a lot, especially when hungry)
  • To stick a straw in: “Stick a straw in your lemonade.” (as in, to drink)

5. Figurative/Idiomatic Uses:

  • Stick it (slang - offensive): (Very informal and often considered rude) - "Stick it to him!" (meaning to get revenge on someone) – Use with extreme caution!
  • Stick with it: "If you practice, you’ll stick with it and improve." (meaning continue trying)
  • Stick to the point: "Please stick to the point; we don’t have time for tangents.” (meaning stay focused on the topic)
  • Stick around: "If you're free, stick around for the party." (meaning remain)
  • Stick (a decision): “I’ve stuck to my original plan.” (meaning decided upon)

6. Grammatical Usage:

  • Stick (as a verb in the past tense and past participle of “stick”): “I stuck the tape on the box.” “I have stuck to my opinion.”

Here's a table summarizing the meanings:

Meaning Example
Attach/Fasten Stick the label on the bottle.
Hold Tightly Stick your hand out to shake.
Straight Movement The train stuck to the tracks.
Stuck (Location) I’m stuck in the elevator.
Stubbornness He stuck to his decision.
Food Grandma always sticks a piece of pie.
Figurative Stick with it!

Resources for More Detail:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you interested in? (e.g., everyday conversation, writing a story, understanding idioms, etc.)
  • Is there a specific sentence you're struggling with where you want to use "stick"?

Synonyms for the word stick

Practice with vocabulary stick

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. Please ensure the new regulations ____ to the company's existing compliance framework.
  2. For optimal project delivery, you must ____ the given instructions precisely.
  3. Despite fierce opposition, the committee decided to ____ to its original proposal.
  4. The project manager had to ____ a thorough analysis before presenting the findings to the stakeholders.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. Which of the following actions best describes applying a label securely to a surface? A) affix B) detach C) stick D) remove

  2. To maintain consistency and follow a strategy despite challenges, one might choose to: A) deviate from it B) adhere to it C) stick to it D) abandon it

  3. If a project encounters significant obstacles, and the team decides to continue working through them, they could be said to: A) give up on it B) stick it out C) persevere D) walk away

  4. To ensure financial accountability, all departments must ____ the approved budget limits. A) conform to B) comply with C) ignore D) deviate from

  5. The technician was instructed to ____ the network cable firmly into the port. A) pull B) insert C) extract D) plug

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The management emphasized the importance of consistently following the new protocol. (Rewrite using "stick" or a related word form)

  2. Despite the criticism, she remained steadfast in her belief in the project's success. (Rewrite using "stick" or a related word form)

  3. The architect proposed to permanently fasten the decorative panels to the exterior wall. (Rewrite using a suitable replacement word, not "stick")

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. stick
  2. follow
  3. stick
  4. conduct

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. A) affix, C) stick
  2. B) adhere to, C) stick to
  3. B) stick it out, C) persevere
  4. A) conform to, B) comply with
  5. B) insert, D) plug

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The management emphasized the importance of consistently sticking to the new protocol.
  2. Despite the criticism, she stuck by her belief in the project's success.
  3. The architect proposed to permanently affix the decorative panels to the exterior wall.

Comment ()