pick-me

1 of 2

noun

ˈpik-ˌmē 

variants or pick me

plural pick-mes or pick mes

slang, disparaging

: a person and especially a young woman who seeks attention and approval by behaving in a disingenuous manner : someone who tries too hard to earn acceptance

I feel like I made music from places that were really scary for me, not to sound like such a pick-me …

—Reneé Rapp, quoted at rollingstone.com

A pick me is someone who tries so hard to be different from everyone else that they get what they tried to avoid so hard in the first place, their own stereotype.

—Lillie Rohan and Bethany Reitsma

especially : pick-me girl

Videos of girls pretending to be pick-mes garner thousands of views with people in the comments praising themselves for how they could never do this. They would never stoop so low to shape themselves around the affinities of men.

—Yashvini Deva

pick-me

2 of 2

adjective

variants or less commonly pick me

slang, disparaging

: seeking attention and approval by behaving in a disingenuous manner

It's not as if he didn't seek attention, but he carried himself with an off-putting pick-me energy …, an intent to prove he was the smartest guy in the room.

—Bryan Armen Graham

especially, of a woman or girl : seeking attention and approval especially from men by feigning interest in stereotypically male activities or conforming to traditional values and often by belittling other women

… Much of the criticism of pick-me women often relates to how they engage with other women, for example, exclaiming from the rooftops to men how they "hate girl drama", blatantly agreeing with anti-feminist thoughts, claiming to be much lower maintenance than other women or jokingly highlighting the fact that they wear less makeup compared to other women …

—Kadean Smith

I've spent a lot of my life not feeling like I fit in to being a woman, and I think for a couple of years because of that insecurity, I became almost like very pick-me about it.

—Billie Eilish, speaking on ABC News Network

see also pick-me girl

Examples of pick-me in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Social media posts for Feel Free, made by Botanic Tonics, portray the little blue bottle as a midday pick-me-up, used by everyone from ordinary people to athletes. —Tara Molina, CBS News, 1 June 2026

This easy-to-pack-and-carry facial kit is the perfect pick-me-up before landing. —Chantelle Kincy, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026

Coffee isn’t just a morning pick-me-up; it’s linked to surprising health benefits beyond energy. —Team Verywell Health, Verywell Health, 30 May 2026

This playful treat is only available in stores during the summer, and makes for the perfect afternoon pick-me-up alongside a cup of tea. —Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 28 May 2026

These are the perfect pick-me-up for rainy spring days. —Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 22 May 2026

Smelling salts are thought to stimulate consciousness, a pick-me-up of sorts to boost vivacity and sharpness. —Jason Jones, New York Times, 15 May 2026

And yes, lemon makes its way into the mix as a pick-me-up. —Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 14 May 2026

Caffeine powders and energy drink mixes turn a hydration drink into a workout fuel or afternoon pick-me-up. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

2016, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

2018, in the meaning defined above