Synonyms of picked

picked 1 of 2

adjective

ˈpikt 

as in selected

singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking

a picked group of people for the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

• selected
• select
• preferred
• favorite
• chosen
• favored
• handpicked
• elect
• choice
• of choice
• cherry-picked
• first-line
• fashionable
• screened
• culled
• exclusive
• picked over
• winnowed (out)
• weeded (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• average
• common
• ordinary
• commonplace
• run-of-the-mill

picked

2 of 2

verb

past tense of pick

1

as in harvested

to catch or collect (a crop or natural resource) for human use

pick peas and beans from the garden for dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• harvested
• gathered
• reaped
• grew
• fished
• gleaned
• mowed
• sealed
• garnered
• accumulated
• cut
• captured
• foraged
• clammed
• hunted
• cropped
• shrimped
• bagged
• netted
• trapped
• whaled
• raised
• snared
• hayed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• planted
• seeded
• sowed

2

as in chose

to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities

I pick you as my partner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• selected
• chose
• took
• named
• elected
• preferred
• culled
• designated
• handpicked
• tagged
• cherry-picked
• opted (for)
• nominated
• singled (out)
• adopted
• tapped
• accepted
• appointed
• marked
• set
• embraced
• preselected
• fixed
• settled (on or upon)
• tabbed
• espoused

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• refused
• rejected
• declined
• turned down
• discarded
• disapproved
• repudiated
• spurned
• negatived
• jettisoned
• threw out
• threw away

3

as in provoked

to bring (something volatile or intense) into being

he seems to be trying to pick a fight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• provoked
• promoted
• raised
• triggered
• encouraged
• incited
• instigated
• brewed
• set in motion
• cultivated
• stimulated
• stirred (up)
• whipped (up)
• fermented
• abetted
• fomented
• inspired
• forwarded
• fostered
• nurtured
• motivated
• sowed
• set off
• detonated
• furthered
• excited
• roused
• set
• nourished
• activated
• advanced
• galvanized
• fired
• enlivened
• energized
• inflamed
• quickened
• invigorated
• livened (up)
• vitalized
• pepped (up)
• jazzed (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• checked
• held
• discouraged
• regulated
• inhibited
• constrained
• restrained
• tamed
• curbed
• reined (in)
• settled
• calmed
• bridled
• quieted
• soothed
• subdued
• stilled
• allayed
• tranquilized

4

as in nibbled

to eat reluctantly and in small bites

still suffering from the shock of his wife's death, he could do no more than pick halfheartedly at his food

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nibbled
• pecked
• snacked
• grazed
• tasted
• noshed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gorged
• swilled
• pigged out
• overate
• gormandized

5

as in stabbed

to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object

continued to pick the block of ice until she was able to extract the shrimp

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stabbed
• punctured
• jabbed
• pierced
• stuck
• pecked
• spitted
• speared
• sliced
• poked
• impaled
• skewered
• spiked
• transfixed
• punched
• harpooned
• pinked
• lanced
• ran through
• transpierced
• gored
• cut
• riddled
• pricked
• perforated
• spindled
• thrust
• knifed
• bayoneted
• gimleted
• pronged
• piked
• pinpricked
• dirked
• poniarded
• quilled

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of picked

Verb

The property later passed through several notable hands, including Creative Artists Agency (CAA) co-chairman Kevin Huvane and filmmaker Roberto Sneider, before Channing Tatum picked it up for $6 million in 2015, according to Variety. — Michael Gioia, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026

Kansas was picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 preseason poll; the highest finish of the Schneider era was fifth place in 2021-22. — Pj Green october 21, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026

Bass won a meager 34% of the vote in the June primary — meaning two out of three voters picked someone else. — ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026

Along with their organization’s missions, the pair picked horror because of the conversations the genre provokes. — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026

Unsolved Mysteries, which was originally hosted by Robert Stack and ran for over 500 episodes between 1987 and 2010, previously aired on NBC between 1987 and 1997 and CBS picked it up for two years after it was cancelled. — Peter White, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026

Inside you’ll find an eye-popping array of full-color photography and sharp descriptions for hundreds of artworks, all hand-picked by Lucas and Hobson. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Machado had picked Sierra up from his mother’s Kendall home in her gold Nissan Altima. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026

The effect was clear in Nevada’s 2024 Senate race, which Democrats narrowly won as nearly 5 percent of voters picked a candidate outside the two major parties. — semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing picked

• picked up