The past tense of “stick”
The verb stick (not to be confused with the noun, stick, as in a branch or twig) is understood as ‘to hit or propel (something, such as a hockey puck) with a stick‘. Also, ‘to hold to something firmly by or as if by adhesion: she stuck to her story‘ (as defined by the Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary—thank Noah Webster for his philological services).
Forms of the verb stick
| Word Form | Examples |
|---|---|
| Past Tense | Stuck is the simple past: I stuck the photos into an album. |
| Past Participle | Stuck is also the past participle: The little boy had stuck his head through the railings. |
Irregular verbs like “stick”
Evidently, stick has two forms altogether: stick and stuck. Neither of these ends in –ed, which means that the verb stick is irregular (according to the standards set of regular/irregular verbs by the English language). See the chart of other irregular verbs with two forms:
| Base verb | Past tense | Past participle |
|---|---|---|
| swing | swung | swung |
| hang | hung | hung |
| sting | stung | stung |
| stick | stuck | stuck |
Past tense vs. past participle of “stick”?
Compare these sentences:
I stuck my bag in the locker.
We had been stuck in the elevator for at least an hour before someone realized.
In general, what differentiates the past tense from the past participle form of a verb is precisely that the participle is a form of a verb, and not an actual tense, so to speak. Participles are verb-based, and so they pair with an auxiliary/helper verb, which is ‘had‘, (in the second sentence example).
Both the past tense and past participle form of stick (stuck) refer to actions that occurred and were completed fully in the past; how the information is relayed differs slightly. The past participle form in situations where the past event may have an implication on a current or future event; whereas the past simple refers to a fixed point in time in which something took place and was completed. The past participle is also what forms the passive voice and one of the perfect aspects in grammar.
Sentence examples: stick, stuck, have/has/had stuck
| Verb forms | Example sentences |
|---|---|
| stick | |
| stick |
The glue’s useless—the pieces just won’t stick. We used glue to stick the broken pieces together. My clothes are sticking to my body from the sweat. |
| stuck |
He stuck his hands in his pockets and strolled off. The nurse stuck the needle into my arm. I stuck the photos into an album. |
| have/has/had stuck |
I wouldn’t have wanted to be stuck on a desert island with her. The key has stuck in the lock. She had something stuck between her teeth. |
Synonyms and nearby words
| Word | Similar words |
|---|---|
| stick | adhere, cling, hew, clutch, fasten, cleave |
Idioms with stick
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me | because words don’t cause physical harm it may be ignored |
| stick together | to stay in close proximity or nearby others/someone |
| a stick in the mud | someone who is considered boring/not fun |
| stick and stay, make it play | work hard and stay dedicated to see the results |
| stick out like a sore thumb | to be obvious and conspicuous |
| the sticks | meaning the woods or forest |
| the carrot and the stick | a way to reward/stimulate activity through motivation |
| throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks | to make numerous attempts to see what succeeds |
| stick to your guns | stay truthful to yourself and your beliefs |
| get the short end of the stick | to get an unfavourable outcome/deal |
Practice: stick (verb forms)
He ______ a note to the refrigerator with a magnet.
She was certain she had ______ with her decision, even when it was difficult.
This type of tape ______ to almost any surface.
The children are ______ drawings all over the walls.
It’s important to ______ to the plan to ensure we finish on time.
FAQs
What is the simple past tense of stick?
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Is stick a regular or irregular verb?
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What is the past participle of stick?
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Can I say ‘sticked’ for the past?
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How is past tense ‘stuck’ used?
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Sources
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Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of stick.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/stick. Accessed 16 January, 2023.
Yash, D. "How to Use Stick or Stuck (Explained, With Examples)." Grammarflex, Sep 27, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/stick-or-stuck/.
