picked off; picking off; picks off
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
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
Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
The coaches worked on several situations with the veteran infielder, including pickoffs and holding runners on base.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Justin Ray, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2026
Hungry birds will pick off many of the caterpillars.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pickoff
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
All sorts of conditions apply, including the runner at first base can only return to the white half of the double base on a pickoff attempt.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
The coaches worked on several situations with the veteran infielder, including pickoffs and holding runners on base.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
Adam Scott and his timeless golf swing should continue to pick off various longevity records in the coming years.
—Justin Ray, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2026
Hungry birds will pick off many of the caterpillars.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pickoff
Cite this Entry
“Pickoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pickoff. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
