pickup

noun

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pick·up | \ ˈpik-ˌəp

Definition of pickup

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : one that is picked up: such as

a : a hitchhiker who is given a ride

b : a temporary chance acquaintance

c : a player acquired from another team

2 : the act or process of picking up: such as

a : a revival of business activity

b : acceleration

c : the act or technique of making the acquaintance of a previously unknown person especially for amorous purposes

3 : the conversion of mechanical movements into electrical impulses in the reproduction of sound also : a device (as on an electric guitar) for making such conversion

4a : the reception of sound or an image into a radio or television transmitting apparatus for conversion into electrical signals

b : a device (such as a microphone or a television camera) for converting sound or the image of a scene into electrical signals

5 : a light truck having an enclosed cab and an open body with low sides and tailgate

— called also pickup truck

6 : a pickup game playing pickup

pickup

adjective

Definition of pickup (Entry 2 of 3)

: utilizing or comprising local or available personnel especially without formal organization a pickup basketball game a pickup band

pick up

verb

picked up; picking up; picks up

Definition of pick up (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : to take hold of and lift up

b : to gather together : collect picked up all the pieces

c : to clean up : tidy

2 : to take (passengers or freight) into a vehicle

3a : to acquire casually or by chance picked up a valuable antique at an auction

b : to acquire by study or experience : learn picking up a great deal of knowledge in the process— Robert Schleicher

c : to obtain especially by payment : buy picked up some groceries

d : to acquire (a player) especially from another team through a trade or by financial recompense

e : to accept for the purpose of paying offered to pick up the tab

f : to come down with : catch picked up a cold

g : gain, earn picked up a few yards on the last play picked up her first victory

4a : to enter informally into conversation or companionship with (a previously unknown person) had a brief affair with a girl he picked up in a bar

b : to take into custody the police picked up the fugitive

5a : to catch sight of : perceive picked up the harbor lights

b : to come to and follow picked up the outlaw's trail

c : to bring within range of sight or hearing pick up distant radio signals

d : understand, catch didn't pick up the hint

6a : revive

b : increase

7 : to resume after a break : continue pick up the discussion tomorrow

8 : to assume responsibility for guarding (an opponent) in an athletic contest

9 : to provide needed support or assistance to (someone who has faltered or failed, such as a teammate who has made an error) in a collaborative effort … Burns allowed only five hits and did not issue a walk. She also picked up her teammates after several fielding errors.— John Knebels We have faith. We don't panic. Even in all these one-run ballgames, we have trust in each other that we're going to pull it out. We pick each other up. On days we're not pitching it great, our offense gets going and vice versa.— Marco Gonzales

intransitive verb

1 : to recover or increase speed, vigor, or activity : improve after the strike, business picked up the wind began to pick up

2 : to put things in order was always picking up after her

3 : to pack up one's belongings couldn't just pick up and leave

pick up on

1a : understand, appreciate

b : to become aware of : notice

2 : to adopt as one's own : take up

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about pickup

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Examples of pickup in a Sentence

Noun The fee pays for garbage pickup. The school bus was late for its afternoon pickup. The truck is scheduled to make a pickup today. Adjective He plays with pickup bands at nightclubs. What's the pickup scene like in this city? Verb he has a knack for picking up a language in a few weeks pick up all of your things because we have to be off this beach before dark

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Check with your city for guidelines on leaf pickup. — Carol Kovach, cleveland, "Veterans Day observance planned at Tri-C Westshore Campus: West Shore Chatter," 6 Nov. 2019 Investigators on Monday released a photo of Williams and Noverr in the Butlers' pickup crossing into Mexico at the Texas border on Oct. 21. — Fox News, "New Hampshire couple found dead in Texas: Warrant out for 'armed and dangerous' man," 6 Nov. 2019 Nordstrom, for example, offers its loyalty members and cardholders curbside pickup for purchases and free alterations. — Sarah Skidmore Sell, chicagotribune.com, "Ho, ho, no? Reconsidering store credit cards at the holidays," 6 Nov. 2019 Retailers such as Aldi, Giant Food, Target, The Fresh Market, Wegmans, Weis Markets and others have launched or expanded online delivery or curbside pickup in the past year. — Lorraine Mirabella, baltimoresun.com, "Walmart offers fee-based online grocery delivery in Baltimore," 6 Nov. 2019 Democratic pickups in Virginia occurred in Washington, D.C., and Richmond suburbs that already had trended in the party's direction in recent years. — Anchorage Daily News, "Dems flip Virginia; Kentucky governor race too close to call," 6 Nov. 2019 Most pickups are done in the parking lot of a local Target, the Pioneer Press said. — Allen Kim, CNN, "Krispy Kreme strikes deal with college kid who drives 250 miles to resell its doughnuts," 6 Nov. 2019 Democratic pickups in Virginia occurred in Washington, D.C., and Richmond suburbs that already had trended in the party’s direction in recent years. — BostonGlobe.com, "Democrats took full control of the Virginia legislature for the first time in more than two decades while the race for governor in deeply Republican Kentucky was too close to call despite a last-minute boost from President Donald Trump.," 6 Nov. 2019 Democratic pickups in Virginia occurred in Washington, D.C., and Richmond suburbs that already had trended in the party’s direction in recent years. — Bill Barrow, Twin Cities, "Dems flip Virginia; Kentucky governor race too close to call," 5 Nov. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Tacoma is the most popular midsize pickup truck on the market, selling almost 250,000 vehicles a year. — Randy Diamond, ExpressNews.com, "Toyota’s $391 million expansion the first major renovation of San Antonio plant in nine years," 17 Sep. 2019 My mom wasn’t preppy like the other mothers at camp pickup day, who wore ponytails and matchy outfits. — Devorah Heitner, Longreads, "What’s Happening to My Body?," 13 Sep. 2019 Ford’s best-selling F150 pickup truck, for instance, is reckoned to have around 150m lines of code. — The Economist, "A connected world will be a playground for hackers," 12 Sep. 2019 The two companies announced plans in January to collaborate on developing commercial vans and medium-sized pickup trucks while exploring electric and autonomous vehicles together. — Tom Krisher, chicagotribune.com, "Volkswagen to invest $2.6 billion in Ford robocar firm as part of electric vehicle tie-up," 12 July 2019 The two companies announced plans in January to collaborate on developing commercial vans and medium-sized pickup trucks while exploring electric and autonomous vehicles together. — Washington Post, "VW, Ford broaden alliance to autonomous, electric vehicles," 12 July 2019 Back in January, the two car makers announced plans to share technology and platforms, starting with new commercial vehicles like vans and medium-sized pickup trucks. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, "Volkswagen will share electric car platform with Ford, says Reuters," 5 July 2019 The Pennsylvania retailer, growing in the Baltimore area, has rapidly expanded from four stores with curbside pickup two years ago to 177 with delivery and curbside service. — Lorraine Mirabella, baltimoresun.com, "Go to the supermarket? Increasing numbers of Baltimore-area shoppers buy their groceries online instead.," 15 Aug. 2019 The company also announced exclusive partnerships with Disney, Hilton, and AEG Worldwide venues to provide riders special offers and dedicated pickup spots. — Fortune, "Lyft’s Shares Jump 5% On Smaller-Than-Expected Losses," 7 Aug. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb In the Caucasus Mountains, Western Europe and England, new genes were picked up by the apple varieties there. — Amy Thomas, courant.com, "All about apples: Nearly everything you never really knew," 17 Sep. 2019 Amazon had the streaming rights in most of the foreign territories that will be picked up by Netfilx. — Stephen Battaglio, chicagotribune.com, "Netflix acquires the global streaming rights to ‘Seinfeld’," 16 Sep. 2019 Amazon had the streaming rights in most of the foreign territories that will be picked up by Netfilx. — Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, "Netflix acquires the global streaming rights to ‘Seinfeld’," 16 Sep. 2019 One of the students is picked up by an adult and the other is seen lying on the ground after being tackled. — Fox News, "California Marine filmed violently tackling two brawling students to the ground," 15 Sep. 2019 Skinner’s SB42 would require local jails to allow someone who is scheduled to be released after sundown to wait in a safe place until the morning or they can be picked up. — Dustin Gardiner, SFChronicle.com, "California housing, guns, criminal justice reform: Focus shifts to Gavin Newsom," 15 Sep. 2019 The survivors were picked up by an Australian Navy ship. — Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, "Behrouz Boochani Is One of Australia’s Most Celebrated Writers, But He Can’t Step Onshore," 11 Sep. 2019 Army blitzed Riley from the edge, and he wasn't picked up by Hayes. — Orion Sang, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan football vs. Army halftime observations: Sloppy play costing Wolverines," 7 Sep. 2019 Noah had been in the van since he was picked up to go to day care that morning at 9:02, Concepcion said. — Tonya Alanez, sun-sentinel.com, "Day-care van driver arrested in death of 2-year-old left inside," 6 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pickup.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.