Standard Lemma guide

stickshift

noun · 4 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.

  • General-American: /ˈstɪkˌʃɪft/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A manual transmission controlled by a gear lever.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US

Examples

  • In Europe in the era before modern electric vehicles, most cars had a stickshift.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: manual

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A motor vehicle with a manual transmission controlled by a gear lever.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US

Examples

  • My old car was a stickshift, but my new one is an automatic.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: manual

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Cars, collectively, with such a transmission.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, informal, uncountable

Examples

  • Do you know how to drive stickshift? [=drive stick]

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A gear lever; especially, one that rises from the floor.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US

Examples

  • It is uncomfortable to be a middle passenger in this truck because your legs tend to be in the way of the stickshift.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From stick + shift.