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
Ronald Blum, Denver Post, 23 Sep. 2025
In 2023, a freak collision on a pickoff play, when Fernando Tatís Jr.’s hip smacked into Rizzo’s head, caused what was initially identified to be a neck injury, but later determined to be a concussion.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
James Boyd, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
With six seconds remaining, Salter was picked off for a third time as his pass was deflected into the air and eventually caught by Namdi Obiazor to end the half with the teams tied at 14.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pickoff
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Noun
Those included a pitch clock, larger bases, and restrictions on defensive shifts and pitcher disengagements such as pickoff attempts.
—Ronald Blum, Denver Post, 23 Sep. 2025
In 2023, a freak collision on a pickoff play, when Fernando Tatís Jr.’s hip smacked into Rizzo’s head, caused what was initially identified to be a neck injury, but later determined to be a concussion.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
Defensive end Laiatu Latu also picked off Raiders quarterback Geno Smith in the second quarter, marking Latu’s second interception of the season.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
With six seconds remaining, Salter was picked off for a third time as his pass was deflected into the air and eventually caught by Namdi Obiazor to end the half with the teams tied at 14.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pickoff
Cite this Entry
“Pickoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pickoff. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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