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

Baseball has made progress with rule changes that have sped up the pace of play, including a pitch clock and limits on pickoff moves. —Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 13 Nov. 2025

The pickoff saved the Los Angeles Dodgers a run, as starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow walked Varsho and then gave up a single to Alejandro Kirk, but got the following two batters out to escape the jam. —Valentina Martinez, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025

Verb

Mike Vrabel’s squad shouldn’t have given up only three points, especially after Drake Maye was picked off on the Patriots’ second drive at his own 10-yard line. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026

Last year, the first under coach Jim Harbaugh, Herbert was picked off four times at Houston after making it through the regular season with just three interceptions. —Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 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