Synonyms of pick up

pick up 1 of 2

verb

1

as in to master

to acquire complete knowledge, understanding, or skill in

he has a knack for picking up a language in a few weeks

Synonyms & Similar Words

• master
• learn
• get
• understand
• get the hang of
• know
• find out
• search (for)
• drink (in)
• see
• discover
• track (down)
• run down
• hear
• grasp
• comprehend
• dig up
• hit (on or upon)
• ascertain
• examine
• detect
• absorb
• apprehend
• study
• digest
• determine
• tumble (to)
• assimilate
• memorize
• discern
• scare up
• imbibe
• major (in)
• descry
• unearth

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• forget
• unlearn
• miss
• ignore
• overlook
• disregard
• misunderstand
• neglect

2

as in to collect

to bring together in one body or place

pick up all of your things because we have to be off this beach before dark

Synonyms & Similar Words

• collect
• assemble
• gather
• accumulate
• round up
• get together
• garner
• amass
• group
• bulk (up)
• corral
• pack
• join
• concentrate
• combine
• lump
• congregate
• batch
• bunch
• organize
• ball
• pile
• stack
• raise
• constellate
• unite
• arrange
• connect
• compile
• rally
• cluster
• merge
• flock
• muster
• link
• huddle
• herd
• band
• heap
• pool
• swarm
• systematize
• press
• collate
• archive
• hive
• scrape (up or together)
• throng
• brigade
• regroup
• re-collect
• regather

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• split (up)
• dispel
• dissipate
• disperse
• scatter
• break up
• send
• separate
• dissolve
• disintegrate
• dismiss
• sever
• disband

3

as in to buy

to get possession of (something) by giving money in exchange for

could you pick up some milk at the store?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• buy
• purchase
• take
• get
• pay (for)
• deal (for)
• cop
• obtain
• win
• exchange (for)
• negotiate (about)
• trade (for)
• acquire
• procure
• bargain (with)
• secure
• gain
• garner
• haggle (for)
• spring (for)
• finance
• offer
• barter (for)
• bid
• palter (with)
• repurchase
• chaffer (with)
• dicker (over)
• horse-trade (with)
• rebuy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deal (in)
• sell
• merchandise
• market
• retail
• vend

4

as in to gain

to gradually increase in

the boat was just picking up speed when it was rammed by another boat

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gain
• grow (in)
• build up
• gather
• double (in)
• accumulate
• accrue
• expand
• triple (in)
• stimulate
• maximize
• enhance
• excite
• step up
• mount
• enrich
• extend
• amass
• ramp (up)
• enlarge
• elevate
• jack (up)
• boost

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decrease (in)
• lose
• fall (in)
• decline (in)
• diminish (in)
• lessen
• dip
• taper off
• abate
• taper
• dwindle

5

as in to lift

to move from a lower to a higher place or position

pick up your feet while I vacuum in front of the sofa

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lift
• raise
• take up
• elevate
• hoist
• uplift
• uphold
• heighten
• hike
• jack (up)
• boost
• perk (up)
• heave
• crane
• up
• heft
• rise
• mount
• upraise
• ascend
• rear
• upend

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• drop
• fall
• lower
• slip
• push
• descend
• bear
• plunge
• dip
• press
• pitch
• depress
• sink
• submerge

6

as in to arrest

to take or keep under one's control by authority of law

police picked up the fugitive when she went out to buy food

Synonyms & Similar Words

• arrest
• seize
• run in
• grab
• pull in
• apprehend
• restrain
• detain
• capture
• commit
• pinch
• nick
• nail
• nab
• catch
• snatch
• jail
• bust
• snap (up)
• collar
• trap
• lock (up)
• hook
• confine
• land
• incarcerate
• imprison
• snare
• get
• bind
• grapple
• bag
• hold
• intern
• remand
• jug
• shackle
• handcuff
• immure
• fetter
• enchain
• trammel
• manacle
• rearrest

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discharge
• release
• liberate
• spring
• free
• loosen
• emancipate
• loose
• unbind
• unchain

7

as in to clean house

to make a place neat and orderly by removing extraneous stuff

I thought you said you had picked up, so why are these things still lying around the rec room?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• clean house
• set straight
• clean (up)
• tidy (up)
• clean (off)
• order
• arrange
• straighten (up)
• turn out
• police (up)
• housekeep
• houseclean
• neaten
• unclutter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clutter
• mess (up)
• disarrange

8

as in to resume

to begin again or return to after an interruption

after the protestors were removed from the auditorium, the speaker picked up his lecture right where he had left off

Synonyms & Similar Words

• resume
• continue
• restart
• reopen
• proceed (with)
• renew
• revive
• resuscitate
• recrudesce

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• finish
• end
• complete
• conclude
• consummate
• shut off
• check
• stay
• cut
• finalize
• stop
• terminate
• drop
• can
• break
• cease
• quit
• halt
• discontinue
• leave off
• desist
• scuttle
• knock off
• belay

9

as in to trim

to make neat

the boy's bedroom looked like it hadn't been picked up in quite a while

Synonyms & Similar Words

• trim
• organize
• arrange
• straighten (up or out)
• spruce (up)
• redd (up or out)
• draw up
• tidy (up)
• classify
• dispose
• array
• order
• neaten
• systematize
• codify
• range
• marshal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• mix (up)
• upset
• disrupt
• disturb
• shuffle
• disarray
• scramble
• mess (up)
• tumble
• muddle
• disorganize
• disarrange
• muss
• jumble
• disorder
• discompose
• tousle
• rumple
• dishevel

pickup

2 of 2

noun

as in increase

Related Words

• increase
• upturn
• upswing
• boost
• spurt
• outbreak
• burst
• explosion
• flare
• surge
• flurry
• outburst
• epidemic
• renewal
• eruption
• flash
• flood
• flutter
• flicker
• rush
• recurrence
• paroxysm
• recrudescence
• volley
• flare-up
• deluge
• spate
• commotion
• furor
• uproar

Dissimilar Words

• slump
• calm
• doldrums

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pick up

Verb

Rasmussen picked up his car tag on Wednesday, having one concern. —Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026

But Amazon is picking up the pace. —Josh Dinner, Space.com, 29 May 2026

The Bee reached out to the JB Ice Cream on Thursday, May 28 but no representative picked up the phone. —Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado may 29, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026

The show picks up nine or so months after Nick's death, when the gang has gotten back together to spread his ashes at the top of a scenic mountainscape. —Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 28 May 2026