stuck: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighInformal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “stuck” mean?
Unable to move or make progress.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Unable to move or make progress; fixed in position physically or situationally.
Experiencing difficulty proceeding with a task or decision; feeling trapped in an undesirable circumstance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'stuck' identically for the participle of 'stick'. Slight preference in UK English for 'stuck' in informal descriptions of being baffled ("I'm completely stuck on this puzzle").
Connotations
Equally negative in both varieties, implying frustration and lack of agency.
Frequency
Very high and comparable frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “stuck” in a Sentence
be/get stuck + prepositional phrase (in, on, with, between)be/get stuck + -ing formhave + object + stuckVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stuck” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The label had stuck to the jar for years.
- He'd stuck the poster up with Blu-Tack.
American English
- The nickname really stuck after that game.
- She stuck the memo on the fridge with a magnet.
adjective
British English
- We were stuck in a massive queue on the M25.
- I'm stuck on question three of the maths homework.
American English
- The drawer is stuck and won't open.
- I feel stuck in my current job with no promotion in sight.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used for projects that are not advancing or for difficult negotiations.
Academic
Describes intellectual impasse or methodological dead ends.
Everyday
Very common for traffic, mechanical issues, or personal dilemmas.
Technical
In computing, describes a process that has stopped responding (a stuck process).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stuck”
- Using 'stucked' (incorrect; irregular past participle is 'stuck').
- Using 'stuck' as a main verb (e.g., 'I stuck in traffic' is wrong; must be 'I was/got stuck...').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'stucked' is always incorrect. The past tense and past participle of the verb 'stick' is 'stuck' (e.g., He stuck a note on the door. The note has stuck to the door).
Yes, very commonly. When used as an adjective, it describes a state of being unable to move or progress (e.g., a stuck window, a stuck student, a stuck project).
'Trapped' often implies a greater danger or a more deliberate confinement (e.g., trapped in a burning building, trapped by one's own lies). 'Stuck' is broader and more neutral, covering simple physical immobility (a stuck zipper) and figurative lack of progress (stuck in a routine).
Common patterns: 'stuck IN' a place/situation, 'stuck ON' a problem/idea, 'stuck WITH' a person/task/responsibility, 'stuck BETWEEN' two choices, 'stuck AT' a level/number.
Unable to move or make progress.
Stuck is usually informal to neutral in register.
Stuck: in British English it is pronounced /stʌk/, and in American English it is pronounced /stək/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “stuck in a rut”
- “stuck between a rock and a hard place”
- “stuck-up (arrogant)”
- “get stuck in (UK: start enthusiastically)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a truck (sounds like 'stuck') with its wheels trapped in thick mud, unable to move.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIFFICULTIES ARE IMPEDIMENTS TO MOVEMENT / LACK OF PROGRESS IS BEING PHYSICALLY STUCK.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'stuck' CORRECTLY?