Sobresalir vs asomar

Sobresalir vs asomar
 

Hi,

The dictionary gives roughly the same definition for both. I have an impression, though, that sobresalir means sticking out upwards (also being higher, better, and bigger); asomar means sticking out pretty much in any direction, mostly literally. Is it so?

Las plantas se asoman. They stick out of (spring up from) the ground.
Sobresalir means to stand out (noticeably above, better, than something else).

If you stick your head around a corner to see something, you use the verb asomarse to say that.

Me asomó por la esquina? :thinking:

Yes!
Me asomé por la esquina. (first-person conjugation)
Él se asomó por la esquina. (third-person conjugation)

I agree with Rusty and with your original definitions. :)


"Sobresalir" implies that something sticks out in a comparison, where there is something else taken as a reference:
- Los brotes de la planta sobresalen ya de la maceta. -> The sprouts of the plant are sticking out of the pot.
- Juan es un estudiante sobresaliente. -> Juan is better than his average classmates.
- Yo no sobresalgo en la calle. -> I'm like any average person in the street.
- La cola del gato sobresale por encima de los arbustos. -> I can see the cat's tail sticking out of the bushes.
- Nuestro gobernador sobresale entre todos por incapaz. -> Our governor stands out from the others because of his helplessness.


And "asomar" is mostly used implying some sort of movement in order to have a glimpse:
- Los brotes de la planta ya asoman por encima de la tierra. -> I can see the plant sprouts coming out of the soil.
- No asomes la cabeza por la ventanilla. -> Don't lean out of the car window.
- Me asomé, pero no vi a nadie. -> I came around to look, but nobody was there.
- ¿Quién es ése que se asoma por la ventana? -> Who's that guy peeping through the window?

very good examples

Thanks! :)