Synonyms of pick

pick 1 of 2

noun

1

as in choice

a person or thing that is chosen

that team is my pick to win the Super Bowl

Synonyms & Similar Words

• choice
• bet
• favorite
• selection
• chosen
• option
• candidate
• nominee
• nomination
• preference
• liking
• like
• designation
• appointment
• appointee
• elective
• selectee
• preselection

2

as in best

individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class

the pick of the contestants will go on to the next competition

Synonyms & Similar Words

• best
• elect
• choice
• top
• aristocracy
• elite
• flower
• prime
• cream
• Hall of Fame
• pink
• cream of the crop
• A-list
• royalty
• society
• upper crust
• pride
• priesthood
• quality
• crème de la crème
• fat
• establishment
• corps d'elite
• illuminati
• upper class
• nobility
• top drawer
• gentry
• caviar
• who's who

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• masses
• millions
• multitude
• rank and file
• herd
• mob
• commoners
• hoi polloi
• unwashed

3

as in option

the power, right, or opportunity to choose

you have first pick of your office mates for the softball team

Synonyms & Similar Words

• option
• choice
• way
• preference
• selection
• alternative
• liberty
• vote
• election
• discretion
• will
• volition
• druthers
• say
• determination
• free will
• voice
• tendency
• liking
• inclination
• propensity
• predilection
• proclivity
• judgment
• penchant
• discernment
• partiality
• perspicacity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• force
• duty
• coercion
• obligation
• duress
• Hobson's choice

4

as in blow

a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument

in the days when corporal punishment was permissible, it was not uncommon for an inattentive student to get a sharp pick in the head with a blackboard pointer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blow
• hit
• swipe
• knock
• slap
• punch
• whack
• thump
• pound
• poke
• thud
• lick
• smack
• stroke
• beat
• spank
• bang
• slam
• chop
• switch
• hook
• clip
• clap
• kick
• smash
• swat
• crack
• bat
• box
• hack
• lash
• belt
• bash
• buffet
• pelt
• bust
• plump
• sock
• stripe
• slug
• bop
• fillip
• rap
• dab
• cuff
• clout
• knee
• pounding
• swing
• hand
• biff
• wham
• douse
• left
• wallop
• stinger
• thwack
• licking
• right
• beating
• whop
• welt
• counter
• haymaker
• larrup
• body blow
• whip
• shiver
• sucker punch
• hammering
• counterblow
• whipping
• one-two
• counterstroke
• thrashing
• knockdown
• rabbit punch
• knockout
• KO
• counterpunch
• roundhouse
• pummeling
• uppercut
• pasting
• battering
• sidewinder
• drubbing
• flogging
• cruncher
• clobbering
• bludgeoning
• walloping
• lambasting
• right-hander
• cudgeling
• kayo
• bastinado

pick

2 of 2

verb

ˈpik 

1

as in to harvest

to catch or collect (a crop or natural resource) for human use

pick peas and beans from the garden for dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• harvest
• gather
• reap
• grow
• fish
• mow
• glean
• cut
• accumulate
• garner
• seal
• hunt
• forage
• capture
• crop
• hay
• trap
• raise
• shrimp
• clam
• whale
• net
• snare
• bag

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• plant
• sow
• seed

2

as in to choose

to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities

I pick you as my partner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• choose
• select
• take
• prefer
• elect
• name
• designate
• handpick
• tag
• cull
• cherry-pick
• opt (for)
• nominate
• single (out)
• accept
• adopt
• appoint
• tap
• set
• tab
• preselect
• mark
• embrace
• fix
• settle (on or upon)
• espouse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• refuse
• reject
• decline
• turn down
• negative
• disapprove
• repudiate
• discard
• spurn
• throw away
• throw out
• jettison

3

as in to provoke

to bring (something volatile or intense) into being

he seems to be trying to pick a fight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• provoke
• raise
• encourage
• promote
• trigger
• set in motion
• incite
• instigate
• stir (up)
• stimulate
• cultivate
• brew
• foment
• ferment
• whip (up)
• abet
• forward
• inspire
• set off
• motivate
• nurture
• foster
• further
• detonate
• rouse
• set
• nourish
• sow
• advance
• activate
• excite
• galvanize
• energize
• inflame
• enliven
• invigorate
• quicken
• fire
• jazz (up)
• vitalize
• liven (up)
• pep (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• check
• hold
• regulate
• restrain
• discourage
• constrain
• curb
• inhibit
• tame
• rein (in)
• settle
• subdue
• calm
• soothe
• bridle
• allay
• still
• quiet
• tranquilize

4

as in to nibble

to eat reluctantly and in small bites

still suffering from the shock of his wife's death, he could do no more than pick halfheartedly at his food

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nibble
• snack
• peck
• graze
• taste
• nosh

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gorge
• overeat
• swill
• pig out
• gormandize

5

as in to stab

to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object

continued to pick the block of ice until she was able to extract the shrimp

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stab
• stick
• pierce
• puncture
• jab
• peck
• spit
• poke
• pink
• impale
• spear
• run through
• lance
• punch
• slice
• spike
• transfix
• skewer
• gore
• transpierce
• harpoon
• cut
• perforate
• spindle
• knife
• thrust
• riddle
• pike
• prick
• quill
• bayonet
• prong
• poniard
• gimlet
• dirk
• pinprick

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pick

Noun

White, a second-round draft pick of the New England Patriots in 2023, has played in all five games this season for the unbeaten 49ers, registering three sacks and nine tackles. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

That lack of a consensus pick makes for an anyone’s-possible nomination process. — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2026

Verb

Chargers-Chiefs game prediction If not for the Chargers’ outrageous injury list, this would make for the perfect situation to pick a surprise Los Angeles win, or at the very least a cover. — Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026

Gary Oldman recently claimed that the next James Bond has already been picked, but no official casting announcement has been made. — Jack Dunn, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing pick

• pick at
• pick off
• pick on
• pick the brains of
• pick up
• pick up on