handpick

verb

hand·​pick ˈhan(d)-ˈpik How to pronounce handpick (audio)
handpicked; handpicking; handpicks

transitive verb

1
: to pick by hand as opposed to a machine process
2
: to select personally or for personal ends

Examples of handpick in a Sentence

They run a farm where you can handpick fresh strawberries. a box of handpicked strawberries The executive handpicked her successor.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There’s no gender gap at highly selective private colleges where schools handpick 50/50 classes; at the highest rungs, men appear to be holding their own. Ryan Craig, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024 On farms, native workers might be supervisors or run high-tech equipment while immigrants handpick crops, Clemens said. Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2024 July 31, 2024 The man who handpicks your nightmares July 30, 2024 NewsletterFridays Book Club Our weekly selection of book reviews and recommendations from Book World editor Ron Charles. Ty Burr, Washington Post, 1 Aug. 2024 When San Benito County walnut grower John Swett took over his father’s orchard decades ago, 40 people were needed to handpick 20 acres. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 26 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for handpick 

Word History

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of handpick was in 1831

Dictionary Entries Near handpick

Cite this Entry

“Handpick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handpick. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

handpick

verb
hand·​pick ˈhan(d)-ˈpik How to pronounce handpick (audio)
: to select personally
a handpicked successor

More from Merriam-Webster on handpick

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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