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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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?
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4
as in to gain
to gradually increase in
the boat was just picking up speed when it was rammed by another boat
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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?
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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
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9
as in to trim
to make neat
the boy's bedroom looked like it hadn't been picked up in quite a while
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pick up
Grace McCarty, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2026
Grown-ups go to work or pick up their laundry or go to the grocery store.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government picks up 90% of the program and the state the remainder.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
The show’s cringe comedy was trendsetting, too — the image of Valerie voting in a cupcake outfit is more exquisitely painful to behold than anything on The Office — and perhaps because of its acid tone, it wasn’t picked up for a second season by HBO.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Verb
And trust us, your strands will thank you for doing your homework before picking up the flatiron.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2026
Grown-ups go to work or pick up their laundry or go to the grocery store.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government picks up 90% of the program and the state the remainder.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
The show’s cringe comedy was trendsetting, too — the image of Valerie voting in a cupcake outfit is more exquisitely painful to behold than anything on The Office — and perhaps because of its acid tone, it wasn’t picked up for a second season by HBO.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pick up
Verb
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And while plenty of Korean brands have mastered the art of silky sunscreens with zero white cast, Innisfree’s Daily UV Defense Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ PA++++—the upgraded version of the brand’s long-time fan-favorite and Best of Beauty winner—is especially worth calling out.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
21 Mar. 2026
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Best for flooring variety If the goal for your home is to master the Rule of 3, then The Home Depot is your flooring installer.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The data collected will help determine whether low-boom supersonic flight can be safely integrated into commercial aviation.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Mar. 2026
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Brown and Davis collected 3 rbi each with Brown scoring 3 times and Moeller crossing home plate twice.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Part of the funding will go to buy a mobile health unit, which will travel to these areas to provide care for the patients and invaluable experience under the supervision of clinical staff.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
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White House officials argue the waiver allows US partners to buy oil that China would have purchased anyway.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Gemini moon asks you to gain clarity around your priorities.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
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Nigeria’s conflict has been underway since 2010; in Somalia, the battle against al-Shabab has been going (badly) for more than 17 years; Sahelian jihadist groups have similarly been gaining ground for the past decade.—
Obi Anyadike,
semafor.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Security officials confirmed the base is safe and the lockdown has been lifted.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
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In interviews with Reuters and The Associated Press, Steiner said that without congressional action to lift the agency’s $15 billion statutory debt limit, USPS could struggle to pay vendors or employees by February 2027.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The owners who were arrested were charged with felonies; however, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg later dismissed the case due to conflicts of interest.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
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Laura, a piano student from Berlin, played with arresting ambivalence by Paula Beer, narrowly survives a car wreck that kills her boyfriend.—
Holden Seidlitz,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The losses deepened after the Fed decided to keep its main interest rate steady, instead of resuming cuts meant to give the job market and economy a boost.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
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But while the federal government may be satisfied, many states’ attorneys general are not and the nearly two-year-old trial resumed Monday in a Manhattan courtroom.—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Golden State trimmed the deficit to single digits early in the second half but quickly entered foul trouble, with Boston drawing five whistles in the first four minutes of the third quarter.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
19 Mar. 2026
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Leonard scored 12 of his points during that stint and the Clippers led by as many as 18 during the opening quarter before the Pelicans trimmed it to 40-26 on Murphy’s free throws.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pick up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pick%20up. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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