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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pick up
Katie Rife, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025
Silvetti picked up a yellow card in the 69th minute and was later substituted for by Yannick Bright in the 74th minute as Miami looked to bolster its defense for the final stretch of the game.
—Andre Fernandez, Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
The test, known as Galleri, picked up cancer signals in 216 people, and 133 of them were found to actually have cancer.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
It was then picked up by Netflix in 2014, which produced five more seasons.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Verb
Yet other filmmakers pick up on the thread of romantic longing Whale introduced in 1935 with The Bride of Frankenstein, leading to films like Edward Scissorhands (1990) in which the monster becomes a sentimental anti-hero.
—Katie Rife, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025
Silvetti picked up a yellow card in the 69th minute and was later substituted for by Yannick Bright in the 74th minute as Miami looked to bolster its defense for the final stretch of the game.
—Andre Fernandez, Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
The test, known as Galleri, picked up cancer signals in 216 people, and 133 of them were found to actually have cancer.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
It was then picked up by Netflix in 2014, which produced five more seasons.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pick up
Verb
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Engineers in the United States are making serious efforts to ensure that humanoid robots master self-balancing and offer precision in conducting multiple types of tasks.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Jonathan Bailey has mastered the art of capturing hearts.—
Julie Jordan,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The cell, which measured eleven and a half feet by nine feet, contained a cot, a sink, a mirror, and a bucket for waste, which was collected by Hsieh’s friend, who also brought in food daily.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
7 Nov. 2025
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Fort Worth police plan an investigation to collect and review the facts and the circumstances of the case.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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If this year’s March and June get-togethers were learning exercises — including for the staff after Tuchel began work in January — the next two and the one starting today (Sunday) are all about creating an atmosphere the players and the English public can all buy into.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Cureate does not warehouse or distribute food products, the company buys purchases the food order and the farmer delivers it to the customer, Bryden said.—
Cristina LaRue,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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If Enceladus doesn’t gain enough energy, its surface activity would slow down or stop, and the ocean could eventually freeze.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
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A week after a 27-10 road win at Syracuse, North Carolina turned in a dreadful first half against Stanford (3-7, 2-5 ACC), gaining only 47 total yards on its way to a 3-3 halftime tie.—
Justin Williams,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Expedia lifted its forecast for full-year revenue growth sharply, thanks in part to 26% quarterly growth in the business-to-business travel division that Gorin ran before becoming CEO.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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The plane, an MD-11, lifted off the runway and gained enough altitude to clear a fence at the end of the runway, Inman said during a previous news conference.—
Ray Padilla,
Louisville Courier Journal,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The man was arrested by authorities, said Mexico City mayor, Clara Brugada.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Mount Ida Mayor Vann Morgan was arrested Tuesday after, auditors said, he was overpaid by more than $94,000 over a 17-month period.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Families in some regions are still uncertain whether or when their full benefits will resume.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
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At the time of writing, there is still a huge degree of uncertainty as to when or how SNAP benefits will be resumed, leaving millions of recipients in the dark.—
James Factora,
Them.,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Fears aired an alley-oop dunk to forward Carson Cooper on the next play, the first score of the second half, to trim Arkansas’ lead to 39-38.—
Matt Byrne,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
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The key is to fold the scarf over itself to create volume and to look for a lace trim that leaves the hem frayed, so as not to look too formal.—
Arancha Gamo,
Glamour,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pick up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pick%20up. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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