# stuck

/ˈstək/ (US) · /stˈʌk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stuck
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. unable to move

adjective · CEFR A2

fixed in one place and unable to be moved or pulled away.

For teachers: physically fixed or wedged in a particular position so that movement is impossible.

- The drawer is stuck and I cannot pull it open no matter how hard I try.
- The ring became stuck on her finger after the long flight, likely due to the cabin pressure causing her hands to swell slightly.

### 2. unable to progress

adjective · CEFR B1

unable to continue doing something because it is too difficult or you do not have the answer.

For teachers: unable to proceed with a task or line of reasoning due to a lack of information or a mental block.

- I got stuck on the third question of the exam and wasted ten minutes.
- The research team felt stuck after the initial data failed to support their hypothesis, forcing them to reconsider their entire methodology.

### 3. trapped in a situation

adjective · CEFR B1

forced to stay in a place or situation that you do not like.

For teachers: compelled to remain in an unpleasant or restrictive situation with no obvious means of escape.

- We were stuck in traffic for three hours on the way to the airport.
- He felt stuck in a dead-end job, unable to resign because of his mortgage but finding no satisfaction in his daily responsibilities.

## Examples

- The car is stuck in the mud.
- I am stuck on the third question of the exam and cannot move to the next page.
- The heavy door was stuck due to the humidity, requiring a significant amount of force to budge it even an inch.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.