pick out

verb

picked out; picking out; picks out

transitive verb

1

: discern, make out

2

: to play the notes of by ear or one by one

picking out tunes on the piano

Examples of pick out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Careful observers can pick out sidewalks, underground sewage systems, and ceramic vases left behind. — Rick Steves, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026

Scientists are just beginning to parse through the heap and pick out the most exciting breakthroughs in their own fields. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026

The company said 950 AI agents, which can independently plan and execute tasks, spent 21 hours searching the data, picking out 3,500 RTs. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026

Let’s be like Ilya at the keyboard, picking out a tune even in a moment of duress. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pick out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

pick out

verb

1

: to see or detect with some difficulty

picked out the trail in the snow

2

: to play the notes of by ear or one by one

pick out a tune