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

Holmes also committed a throwing error in the sixth on a pickoff move in an overall disastrous three-run inning that put the Reds ahead for good. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026

Torkelson doubled off Spencer Arrighetti in the eighth and scored from second base when Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk made an errant pickoff throw to third. — CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

Verb

Led by fifth-year safety AG McGhee, Arkansas State is only allowing 181 passing yards and has picked off opposing quarterbacks four times. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Sep. 2026

The rookies Three plays into his NFL career, Mansoor Delane picked off a pass. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 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