Standard Lemma guide

protrude

verb · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /pɹəˈtɹuːd/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /pɹəˈtɹud/
  • General-American: /pɹoʊ-/
  • rhymes with -uːd
  • CMU ARPABET: P R OW0 T R UW1 D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To cause (something) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface; to cause (something) to project or stick out.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: protuberate

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To thrust (someone or something) forward; to drive or force along.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: also, figuratively, obsolete, transitive

Examples

  • 1566, William Painter, The Palace of Pleasure, London: Richard Tottell and William Jones, Volume 1, The .xlj. Nouell, [...] ye people standyng round about [...] cried out, incontinently for the deliuerie of the Ladie, & for vengeaunce to be taken of hym, whiche so wickedly had protruded her into that daunger:
  • 1655, Hamon L’Estrange, The Reign of King Charles, London: Edward Dod and Henry Seile, p. 169, For in case of general disturbance, nothing is more familiar then for several Factions, of several, and sometimes of contrary inclinations and interests, to protrude and drive on one and the same design, to several intents and purposes.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To put forward (an opinion, etc.) in an overly assertive manner; to obtrude.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, obsolete, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To cause (something) to emerge.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, rare, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface; to bulge outward, to project, to stick out.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: jut, protuberate

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To emerge with some speed; to shoot out.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

swell or protrude outwards

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • His stomach bulged after the huge meal

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bulge, pouch

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change shape, change form, deform

Narrower terms: bulk

8

verb

Meaning 8

bulge outward

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • His eyes popped

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: start, pop, pop out, bulge, bulge out, bug out, come out

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change shape, change form, deform

9

verb

Meaning 9

extend out or project in space

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • His sharp nose jutted out
  • A single rock sticks out from the cliff

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: stick out, jut out, jut, project

Antonyms: none provided

Narrower terms: overhang, thrust, push up, spear, spear up, bulge, bag, cantilever

History

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin prōtrūdere, the present active infinitive of prōtrūdō (“to push or thrust forwards; to protrude”), from prō- (“prefix denoting a forward direction or movement”) (from Proto-Indo-European *pro- (“forward; toward”)) + trūdō (“to push, shove, thrust”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *trewd- (“to push, thrust”)).

Across languages

Translations

91 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: pistää — (transitive) to cause (something) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Finnish: ulottaa — (transitive) to cause (something) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Hungarian: előretol — (transitive) to cause (something) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Hungarian: kinyújt — (transitive) to cause (something) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Hungarian: kiölt — (transitive) to cause (something) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Hungarian: kitol — (transitive) to cause (something) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Polish: wystawiać — (transitive) to cause (something) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Polish: wystawić — (transitive) to cause (something) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Arabic: نَتَأَ (nataʔa) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Arabic: بَرَزَ (baraza) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Central Bikol: uldot — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Bulgarian: изпъквам (izpǎkvam) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Bulgarian: подавам се (podavam se) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Bulgarian: стърча (stǎrča) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Chinese Mandarin: 伸出 (shēnchū) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Chinese Mandarin: 凸出 (tūchū) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Chinese Mandarin: 突出 (tūchū) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Czech: vyčnívat — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Czech: trčet — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Dutch: uitsteken — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Finnish: harottaa — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Finnish: pistää — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Finnish: pullistua — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Finnish: sojottaa — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Finnish: törröttää — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Finnish: työntyä — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • French: dépasser — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • French: saillir — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Galician: sobresaír — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • German: herausragen — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • German: herausstehen — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • German: hervorkragen — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • German: hervorragen — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • German: hervorstechend — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • German: hervorstehen — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • German: vorkragen — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • German: vorstehen — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Greek: εισχωρώ (eischoró) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Hebrew: בלט — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Hungarian: eláll — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Hungarian: előreáll — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Hungarian: előrenyúlik — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Hungarian: előreugrik — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Hungarian: kiáll — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Hungarian: kidudorodik — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Hungarian: kiemelkedik — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Hungarian: kinyúlik — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Hungarian: kiszögellik — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Hungarian: kitolul — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Hungarian: kitüremkedik — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Hungarian: kiugrik — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Icelandic: skaga fram — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Icelandic: standa út — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Italian: protrudere — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Italian: protendersi — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Italian: sporgere — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Italian: sportare — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Japanese: 出張る (debaru) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Japanese: 出っ張る (depparu) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Japanese: 突き出る (tsukideru) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Korean: 불거지다 (bulgeojida) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Latin: mineō — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Latin: prōmineō — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Macedonian: испупчи (ispupči) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Māori: kounu — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Māori: pūrero — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Māori: whakapupū — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Māori: whātero — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Māori: whererei — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Persian: بیرون زدن (birun zadan) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Polish: sterczeć — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Polish: wystawać — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Portuguese: protrair — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Russian: торча́ть (torčátʹ) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Russian: выдаю́щийся (vydajúščijsja) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Russian: выдава́ться (vydavátʹsja) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Russian: высо́вываться (vysóvyvatʹsja) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Russian: выступа́ть (vystupátʹ) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Russian: выступающий (vystupajuščij) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Slovak: vyčnievať — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Spanish: protruir — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Spanish: protuberante — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Spanish: protuberar — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Spanish: sobresaliente — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Spanish: sobresalir — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Swedish: stå ut — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Swedish: sticka ut — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Ukrainian: вистава́ти (vystaváty) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Ukrainian: витика́тися (vytykátysja) — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Welsh: aelio — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
  • Welsh: allwthio — (intransitive) to extend above, beyond, or from a boundary or surface
Real reading context

protrude in complete knowledge articles