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
Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
Balanag also has an uncanny ability to pick off base runners, an invaluable skill.
—Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pickoff
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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
Bobby Bryant, another member of the 50 Greatest Vikings who picked off Staubach in that game, played with Siemon for nine seasons.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
Balanag also has an uncanny ability to pick off base runners, an invaluable skill.
—Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 26 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 30 Mar. 2026.
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