picnic

1 of 2

noun

pic·​nic ˈpik-(ˌ)nik 

often attributive

1

: an excursion or outing with food usually provided by members of the group and eaten in the open

also : the food provided for a picnic

2

a

: a pleasant or amusingly carefree experience

I don't expect being married to be a picnic

—Josephine Pinckney

b

: an easy task or feat

3

: a shoulder of pork with much of the butt removed

picnicky

ˈpik-(ˌ)ni-kē 

adjective

picnic

2 of 2

verb

picnicked; picnicking

intransitive verb

: to go on a picnic : eat in picnic fashion

picnicker noun

Synonyms of picnic

Noun

• bed of roses
• paradise
• rest
• utopia
• fun and games
• the lap of luxury
• life of Riley

Examples of picnic in a Sentence

Noun

We decided to have a picnic on the beach.

We ate our picnic by the lake.

The annual school picnic is this weekend.

This winter is a picnic compared with last year's.

Verb

We picnicked in the park.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For the less adventurous, a quick cruise to neighboring islands, some of which get washed away by high tide, is a must-do for intimate picnics, shelling, or special soirees. — Joey Skladany, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026

LeRoy Hansen, who has lived in the Washington area for four decades, has long visited the peninsula to bike, see the cherry blossoms and attend picnics. — Rick Maese, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026

Verb

Jonathan Edwards Winery is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the return of its Harvest Festival that includes the chance for the public to partake in a grape stomping competition as well as picnicking among the vines and a wine tasting. — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 24 Sep. 2026

Fantastic dipper, good friend to sandwiches nationwide, and picnic hot dog essential. — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

German or French; German Picknick, from French pique-nique

First Known Use

Noun

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1815, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing picnic

• picnic table

Rhymes for picnic

• broomstick
• dipstick
• homesick
• joystick
• lipstick
• nonstick
• pickwick
• redbrick
• seasick
• sidekick
• slapstick
• toothpick

Kids Definition

picnic

1 of 2 noun

pic·​nic ˈpik-(ˌ)nik 

1

: a meal eaten outdoors often during a trip away from home

2

a

: a pleasant or carefree experience

breaking a leg is no picnic

b

: an easy task

3

: a shoulder of pork that is often smoked and boned

picnicky adjective

picnic

2 of 2 verb

picnicked; picnicking

: to go on a picnic : eat as if on a picnic

picnicker noun