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

The other Philadelphia runs scored on a throwing error by San Diego reliever Yuki Matsui on a pickoff attempt and a fielder's choice by Brandon Marsh. —ABC News, 4 June 2026

Lincoln Adams reached on a fielder’s choice, an errant pickoff at first base allowed Adams to take second base, and Yencho’s single drove in Adams. —Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 31 May 2026

Verb

When Phoenix got the ball back, Williams picked off a Thomas pass to seal the win. —Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 10 June 2026

When a masked slasher in a Ghostface mask begins picking off kids at Sidney’s high school, everyone puts their heads together to pinpoint the killer. —Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 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