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

To secure your discount, simply select two earplug styles to bundle, pick out your two free Curvd lanyards (one for each earplug style), and head to checkout. — Jamie Spain, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026

Hometown signee Ed Howard, the Cubs’ first-round pick out of Mount Carmel in the truncated 2020 draft, went on the IL in late April 2025. — Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026

When trying to pick out quality glass cookware for your kitchen, brands like Pyrex and Anchor Hocking may be top of mind. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 9 July 2026

Hollywood insider Rob Shuter previously reported that Blake even had a dress picked out for Swift’s wedding in case a last-minute invitation came. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 8 July 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