Meaning & use
stick around
Last updated
Meanings
verbintransitiveinformal
To stay in a place or with a group for a while, often waiting for something.
Grammar: No object; often followed by 'for' or 'to do something'.
Patterns
- stick around for something
- stick around to do something
- stick around with someone
Can you stick around after the meeting? I have a question.
We stuck around for the fireworks.
verbintransitiveinformal
To remain in a situation, job, or relationship rather than leaving.
Grammar: Often used with 'in' or 'with' to show the situation.
Patterns
- stick around in a job
- stick around with someone
He decided to stick around in the company for another year.
She stuck around with the band even when they were not famous.
Word forms
| third person singular | sticks around |
|---|---|
| past tense | stuck around |
| past participle | stuck around |
| -ing form | sticking around |
Common combinations
- stick around for a while
- Please stick around for a while; the party is just starting.
- stick around to see
- We stuck around to see the end of the game.
- stick around after work
- A few of us usually stick around after work for a drink.
Synonyms and how they differ
- stay
- More neutral and can be used in formal writing; 'stick around' is informal.
- remain
- Formal and often used in written English; not common in everyday speech.
- linger
- Suggests staying longer than necessary, often with a sense of reluctance.
Opposites
Word family
- stick verb
- To attach or fix something to a surface.
Commonly confused: stick around or stick out?
stick around vs stick out
Means to be noticeable or to extend outward, not to stay.
Practice
I'm going to ______ after the show to meet the actors.
Choose one answer.
'Stick around' means to stay in a place. 'Stick up' can mean to rob or to point upward, 'stick out' means to be noticeable, and 'stick to' means to continue with something.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “stick around”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.