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

Equally as important as selecting the right fall scent for your home is picking out the perfect wax warmer. —Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2023

Williams, a fourth-round pick out of Syracuse in 2010, debuted in the NFL with 964 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns in his rookie year. —Mark Heim | [e-mail], al, 6 Sep. 2023

Skyy Moore was a second-round pick out of Western Michigan in 2022. —Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 5 Sep. 2023

Reagor, a 2020 first-round pick out of TCU, was waived by the Vikings this week . . . —Nicole Yang, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Aug. 2023

If your dog stays in a crate, the kids can similarly pick out a favorite blanket or toys to leave. —Olivia McCormack, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2023

Gaines, a fourth-round pick out of UCLA, had been operating as the second-team center in practice and in the preseason. —José M. Romero, The Arizona Republic, 26 Aug. 2023

Whether your go-to holiday activities include picking out and decorating a tree, decorating gingerbread houses, or hosting a festive cookie swap, there are plenty of fun things to keep you busy this season. —Samantha Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Aug. 2023

While on the subject of Simpson, the third-round draft pick out of Clemson hasn’t performed well in training camp and missed several tackles in Monday’s preseason game against Washington. —Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, 24 Aug. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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