pick up

1 to acquire complete knowledge, understanding, or skill in <he has a knack for picking up a language in a few weeks> Synonyms get, master, learnRelated Words apprehend, comprehend, grasp, know, understand; absorb, assimilate, digest, drink (in), imbibe; ascertain, descry, detect, determine, dig up, discern, discover, examine, find out, hear, hit (on or upon), run down, scare up, search (for), see, track (down), tumble (to), unearth; major (in), study; memorizeNear Antonyms forget; misunderstand; miss, overlook; disregard, ignore, neglectAntonyms unlearn

2 to bring together in one body or place <pick up all of your things because we have to be off this beach before dark> Synonyms accumulate, amass, assemble, bulk (up), collect, concentrate, congregate, constellate, corral, garner, group, lump, gather, round upRelated Words ball, batch, bunch, cluster, huddle; heap, pile, stack; band, brigade, muster, raise, rally; flock, herd, hive, pack, press, swarm, throng; combine, connect, join, link, merge, pool, unite; archive, arrange, collate, compile, organize, systematize; scrape (up or together); re-collect, regather, regroupNear Antonyms break up, disband, disintegrate, dissolve, separate, sever, split (up); dismiss, sendAntonyms dispel, disperse, dissipate, scatter

3 to get possession of (something) by giving money in exchange for <could you pick up some milk at the store?> Synonyms cop [slang], buy, purchase, takeRelated Words acquire, gain, garner, get, obtain, procure, secure, win; finance, pay (for), spring (for); barter (for), deal (for), dicker (over), exchange (for), haggle (for), negotiate (about), trade (for); bargain (with), chaffer (with), horse-trade (with), palter (with); bid, offer; rebuy, repurchaseNear Antonyms deal (in), market, merchandise (also merchandize), retail, sell, vend

4 to gradually increase in <the boat was just picking up speed when it was rammed by another boat> Synonyms build up, gather, grow (in), gainRelated Words double (in), triple (in); accrue, accumulate, amass; excite, stimulate; enhance, enlarge, enrich, expand, extend, maximize; boost, elevate, jack (up), mount, ramp (up), step upNear Antonyms abate, decline (in), diminish (in), dip, dwindle, fall (in), lessen, taper, taper offAntonyms decrease (in), lose

5 to move from a lower to a higher place or position <pick up your feet while I vacuum in front of the sofa> Synonyms boost, crane, elevate, heave, heft, heighten, hike, hoist, jack (up), lift, perk (up), raise, take up, up, uphold, uplift, upraiseRelated Words ascend, mount, rise; rear, upendNear Antonyms descend, dip, fall, pitch, plunge, slip; bear, depress, press, push; sink, submergeAntonyms drop, lower

6 to take or keep under one's control by authority of law <police picked up the fugitive when she went out to buy food> Synonyms apprehend, bust [slang], collar, nab, nail, nick [British slang], arrest, pinch, pull in, restrain, run in, seizeRelated Words bag, capture, catch, get, grab, grapple, hook, land, snap (up), snare, snatch, trap; commit, confine, detain, hold, immure, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, jug, lock (up); bind, enchain, fetter, handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel; rearrest; remandNear Antonyms emancipate, free, liberate, loose, loosen, release, spring; unbind, unchainAntonyms discharge

7 to make a place neat and orderly by removing extraneous stuff <I thought you said you had picked up, so why are these things still lying around the rec room?> Synonyms clean, tidy (up)Related Words houseclean, housekeep; clean (off), clean (up), neaten, police (up), straighten (up), turn out, unclutter; arrange, orderNear Antonyms clutter, disarrange, mess (up)

8 to begin again or return to after an interruption <after the protestors were removed from the auditorium, the speaker picked up his lecture right where he had left off> Synonyms continue, resume, proceed (with), renew, reopen, restartRelated Words resuscitate, revive; recrudesceNear Antonyms complete, conclude, consummate, end, finalize, finish; belay, break, can [slang], cease, check, cut, desist, discontinue, drop, halt, knock off, leave off, quit, scuttle, shut off, stay, stop, terminate