pickoff

1 of 2

noun

pick·​off ˈpik-ˌȯf 

: a baseball play in which a base runner is picked off

pick off

2 of 2

verb

picked off; picking off; picks off

transitive verb

1

: to shoot or bring down especially one by one

2

: to put out (a base runner who is off base) with a quick throw (as from the pitcher or catcher)

3

: intercept

picked off a pass

Synonyms of pickoff

Verb

• intercept
• grab
• block

Examples of pickoff in a Sentence

Noun

He made a pickoff throw to third base.

Verb

picked off more passes than any other player in the division

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Baseball has made progress with rule changes that have sped up the pace of play, including a pitch clock and limits on pickoff moves. —Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 13 Nov. 2025

The pickoff saved the Los Angeles Dodgers a run, as starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow walked Varsho and then gave up a single to Alejandro Kirk, but got the following two batters out to escape the jam. —Valentina Martinez, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025

Verb

The only drive that didn’t result in points was an interception on a wide receiver pass when Cloutier lateraled to Pryce Demerson, whose toss was picked off by Legacy’s Ben Cano at the Panthers’ 41 yard line. —Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Nov. 2025

Washington picked off Colorado State quarterback Darius Curry in the third quarter when the Broncos led 27-7. —Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 23 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1911, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pickoff

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

pick off

verb

1

: to shoot or bring down one by one or with a single shot

2

: to put out (a base runner who is off base) with a quick throw