pick out

verb

picked out; picking out; picks out

transitive verb

1
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 In an attempt to keep the kids’ childhoods private, the Prince and Princess of Wales don’t traditionally share photos of George, Charlotte and Louis in their Halloween costumes — but in 2019, Kate was spotted at a local supermarket in Norfolk with George and Charlotte picking out costumes. Rachel Burchfield, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024 Going to a department store, picking out [buttons], buying potatoes and then coming home and peeling them and cooking dinner. Dean Baquet, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2024 From 1908 to 1940, customers could pick out their own ready-to-assemble home kit from a Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog and have the materials shipped directly to them, primarily by rail. Jeff Suess, USA TODAY, 5 Oct. 2024 Should this young man be picking out coffins from a catalog? Lincee Ray, EW.com, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pick out 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pick out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pick out was in 1540

Dictionary Entries Near pick out

Cite this Entry

“Pick out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pick%20out. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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