sticky
B1Neutral to informal. Commonly used in everyday speech and some business contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Having a texture that adheres or clings to a surface upon contact.
Describing situations, problems, or topics that are difficult, awkward, or complicated to deal with; (of a website) designed to retain visitors; (of weather) unpleasantly hot and humid.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word primarily refers to a physical, adhesive property (core). It is highly productive in metaphorical extensions describing difficult situations ('sticky issue'), persistent digital engagement ('sticky content'), or unpleasant atmospheric conditions ('sticky weather').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling: Both use 'sticky'. Usage: The metaphor of a 'sticky situation' is equally common. 'Sticky' as slang for sentimentally cloying may be slightly more frequent in UK English.
Connotations
Broadly similar. In business/tech, 'sticky' (for customer/user retention) is universal.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be] sticky (to the touch)[be] sticky with [noun (e.g., jam, sweat)][make/leave] [noun] stickyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a sticky wicket (UK: a difficult situation)”
- “come to a sticky end (meet an unpleasant fate)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to customer or user retention ('sticky products', 'sticky website').
Academic
Rare; may appear in materials science or marketing literature.
Everyday
Most common for physical adhesiveness, difficult situations, and weather.
Technical
In computing/UX: 'sticky keys', 'sticky session', 'sticky header'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adverb
British English
- The glue set stickily.
- The sauce clung stickily to the spoon.
American English
- The mixture dried stickily on the counter.
- The pages were stickily fused together.
adjective
British English
- The toddler's hands were sticky with marmalade.
- It's a bit of a sticky wicket with the client.
- We're having a rare spell of sticky weather.
American English
- The tape is no longer sticky.
- The CEO avoided the sticky question about layoffs.
- The air was hot and sticky all through July.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Be careful, the floor is sticky.
- I don't like sticky sweets.
- My fingers are sticky.
- We used sticky tape to repair the book.
- He got himself into a sticky situation at work.
- The label wasn't sticky enough to stay on.
- The negotiations hit a sticky patch over pricing.
- The app's design is meant to be sticky and encourage daily use.
- The humid climate made everything feel sticky.
- The politician gave a deft answer to a potentially sticky ethical question.
- Analysts praised the platform's sticky features, which reduce user churn.
- A sticky resin exuded from the bark of the pine tree.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a STICK with honey on it – it's STICKY and things stick to it.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIFFICULTY IS BEING STUCK / PROBLEMS ARE ADHESIVE (e.g., 'We're in a sticky situation').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation for metaphorical uses. 'Sticky situation' is not 'липкая ситуация', but 'щекотливая/неловкая ситуация'.
- 'Sticky tape' is typically 'скотч', not 'липкая лента'.
- For humid weather, Russian uses 'душный', not a 'sticky' metaphor.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'sticky' to describe a person who is physically clingy (use 'clingy').
- Confusing 'sticky' (adhesive) with 'slimy' (slippery and unpleasant).
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what does a 'sticky' website primarily aim to do?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not for physical adhesiveness. Informally, it can describe someone who is overly sentimental or cloying (e.g., 'a sticky romantic film'). For a person who won't leave you alone, use 'clingy'.
'Sticky' is the general term for adhesion. 'Tacky' is slightly sticky, often describing a surface that isn't fully dry. 'Gooey' implies a soft, thick, and often pleasantly sticky consistency, like melted cheese or chocolate.
Yes, the standard comparative is 'stickier' and the superlative is 'stickiest'.
Literally, it means hands coated with something sticky. Idiomatically, it refers to a tendency to steal things.