sticky
STIH-kee
Sticky (adjective) means Coated with a substance that clings to things it touches; tending to stick. Example: “His hands were sticky from the melted candy.”
adjective
1
Coated with a substance that clings to things it touches; tending to stick.
"His hands were sticky from the melted candy."
"The table was left sticky after the party."
"The tape was so sticky that it was hard to pull off the roll."
2
Difficult or awkward to deal with.
"We got into a sticky situation with the contract wording."
"It was a sticky moment when two guests argued over the seating plan."
"Talking about money with relatives can be a sticky subject."
3
Hot and humid, causing sweaty discomfort.
"It was a sticky August afternoon."
"The air felt sticky on the crowded train, and everyone wanted a breeze."
"We stayed indoors during the sticky weather because even sitting still made us sweat."
noun
1
A small note with an adhesive strip, used for quick reminders; a Post-it note.
"She left a sticky on his monitor with the meeting time."
"He wrote a quick reminder on a sticky and put it on the fridge."
"Her desk was covered in yellow stickies with phone numbers and to-do lists."
How to use sticky
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTending to adhere or cling, awkward/tricky, or uncomfortably humid, depending on context.
Common pairings
sticky situation
sticky note
sticky weather
sticky fingers
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like sticky.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- stickies
- Third person singular
- stickies
- Past tense
- stickied
- Comparative
- stickier
- Superlative
- stickiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His hands were _____ from the melted candy.
Etymology
From stick plus the adjective-forming suffix -y.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for sticky
See all rhymes for sticky →Frequently asked questions
What does “sticky” mean?
The word “sticky” means coated with a substance that clings to things it touches; tending to stick. In plain terms, tending to adhere or cling, awkward/tricky, or uncomfortably humid, depending on context.
How do you pronounce “sticky”?
“Sticky” is pronounced STIH-kee (/ˈstɪki/ in IPA).
How do you use “sticky” in a sentence?
Here is “sticky” used in a sentence: “His hands were sticky from the melted candy.”
What is another word for “sticky”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sticky” include tenacious, glutinous, muggy and sultry.
What part of speech is “sticky”?
Depending on how it is used, “sticky” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “sticky” a common word?
“Sticky” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “sticky” have?
“Sticky” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: coated with a substance that clings to things it touches; tending to stick.
What is the difference between "sticky" meaning adhesive and "sticky" meaning difficult?
The adhesive sense describes a physical substance that clings to surfaces it touches, while the "difficult" sense is a figurative extension used for an awkward or tricky situation to handle.
What is a "sticky note"?
A sticky note is a small piece of paper with an adhesive strip on the back, used for quick reminders and commonly known by the brand name Post-it.
When would you call a situation "sticky" rather than "difficult"?
"Sticky" implies a situation is awkward or delicate and hard to escape cleanly, often with a hint of embarrassment or risk, making it more vivid than the neutral "difficult."
Is "sticky weather" the same as "humid weather"?
Yes, "sticky" is an informal way to describe hot, humid conditions that leave skin feeling damp and uncomfortable.
