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

In the next match away to Hull City, Suzuki picked out Hemmings again, but this time intending for the ball to drop in front of the 19-year-old. — Aston Villa, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Lock, a second-round pick out of Missouri by the Broncos, started for Denver in 2020, throwing for 2,933 yards with 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. — ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026

A little further south at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, Makayla Rivera will pick out a knee-high boot from her collection. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026

Willis is a fourth-round pick out of Washington who didn't play guard at all in college. — CBS News, 8 Sep. 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