What does sticky mean?

Definitions for sticky
ˈstɪk istick·y

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word sticky.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. gluey, glutinous, gummy, mucilaginous, pasty, sticky, viscid, viscousadjective

    having the sticky properties of an adhesive

  2. stickyadjective

    moist as with undried perspiration and with clothing sticking to the body

    "felt sticky and chilly at the same time"

  3. muggy, steamy, stickyadjective

    hot or warm and humid

    "muggy weather"; "the steamy tropics"; "sticky weather"

  4. awkward, embarrassing, sticky, unenviableadjective

    hard to deal with; especially causing pain or embarrassment

    "awkward (or embarrassing or difficult) moments in the discussion"; "an awkward pause followed his remark"; "a sticky question"; "in the unenviable position of resorting to an act he had planned to save for the climax of the campaign"

  5. stickyadjective

    covered with an adhesive material

Wiktionary

  1. stickynoun

    A sticky note, such as a post-it note.

    Her desk is covered with yellow stickies.

  2. stickynoun

    A small adhesive particle found in wastepaper.

  3. stickyverb

    to fix a thread at the top of the list of topics or threads so as to keep it in view.

  4. stickyadjective

    Able or likely to stick.

    Is this tape sticky enough to stay on that surface?

  5. stickyadjective

    Potentially difficult to escape from.

    This is a sticky situation. We could be in this for weeks if we're not careful.

  6. stickyadjective

    Persistent.

    We should make the printing direction sticky so the user doesn't have to keep setting it.

  7. stickyadjective

    Appearing on all virtual desktops.

  8. stickyadjective

    Fixed at the top of the list of topics or threads so as to keep it in view.

  9. stickyadjective

    Compelling enough to keep visitors from leaving.

    A woman has come to me with the complaint that her website is not "sticky" - 70% of the visits last 30 seconds or less.

  10. stickyadjective

    Of weather, hot and wind-less and with high humidity, so that people feel sticky from sweating.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Stickyadjective

    Viscous; adhesive; glutinous.

    Etymology: from stick.

    Herbs which last longest are those of strong smell and with a sticky stalk. Francis Bacon, Natural History.

ChatGPT

  1. sticky

    Sticky refers to a substance, object, or material having the property of adhering or sticking to other surfaces upon contact. It can describe a situation or problem that is complicated or tricky to deal with. In digital or online context, it can refer to content that stays in the same place even when other content is moving or changing.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Sticky

    having the quality of sticking to a surface; adhesive; gluey; viscous; viscid; glutinous; tenacious

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Sticky

    stik′i, adj. that sticks or adheres: adhesive: glutinous.—n. Stick′iness. [Stick.]

Suggested Resources

  1. sticky

    Song lyrics by sticky -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by sticky on the Lyrics.com website.

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

How to pronounce sticky?

How to say sticky in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of sticky in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of sticky in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of sticky in a Sentence

  1. Paul Burnside:

    Demand has proved to be very sticky and consumers have accepted that SOP prices aren't going to fall.

  2. Mark McGowan:

    She’s bubbly, playing, friendly, sweet. She was eating an icy pole, she spilt it every way. She told me it was very, very sticky, which I believed, and she was just delightful.

  3. Thad Peterson:

    It's a pretty sticky product, once merchants find a processor that works for them, they are unlikely to change. Merchants aren't in the business of payments, they are in the business of selling stuff.

  4. Scott Ruesterholz:

    We believe the worst of energy and supply chain inflation is behind us. However, the persistence of sticky categories will likely help keep inflation in the 5.5 % to 6 % range by the end of the year, mirroring trends across the globe.

  5. Elaine Lissner:

    It's a sticky gel that goes into [the tubes] and basically filters out sperm.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

sticky#1#9246#10000

Translations for sticky

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

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"sticky." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 21 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/sticky>.

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    out of condition; not strong or robust; incapable of exertion or endurance
    A irascible
    B commensal
    C flabby
    D naiant

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