pickoff

1 of 2

noun

pick·​off ˈpik-ˌȯf 

: a baseball play in which a base runner is picked off

pick off

2 of 2

verb

picked off; picking off; picks off

transitive verb

1

: to shoot or bring down especially one by one

2

: to put out (a base runner who is off base) with a quick throw (as from the pitcher or catcher)

3

: intercept

picked off a pass

Synonyms of pickoff

Verb

• intercept
• grab
• block

Examples of pickoff in a Sentence

Noun

He made a pickoff throw to third base.

Verb

picked off more passes than any other player in the division

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There were plenty of laughs, as Montero imitated Lester’s pickoff throw and the players told some clubhouse stories, including some fights. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026

McMillian's controversial pickoff was Denver's fifth takeaway of the game and would be Allen's last pass of the season. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026

Verb

Seattle’s defense picked off 3 percent of the passes thrown by opposing quarterbacks this season, the fifth-highest rate in the league. —Kc Joyner, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026

The gritty wing threw a rebound off a Kings player to give the Celtics possession, picked off a Dennis Schroder pass and gathered an offensive rebound after his own missed three. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 31 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1911, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pickoff

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

pick off

verb

1

: to shoot or bring down one by one or with a single shot

2

: to put out (a base runner who is off base) with a quick throw