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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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?
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of pickup
Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025
Wildfire risk is not particularly high right now, but Rizzuto said that if rain doesn’t pick up, there could be trouble during the dry season, which runs November through May.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2025
Visiting a licensed dispensary with your ID and personal info to pick up your medicine.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Aug. 2025
Vera Bradley Featherweight Woodward Small Belt Bag More than 100 Amazon shoppers have picked up this water-repellent quilted belt bag from Vera Bradley in the past month.
—Emily Weaver, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pickup
Noun
The streamer has picked up Count My Lies, which is based on a novel by Sophie Stava and comes from former This Is Us showrunners Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025
Wildfire risk is not particularly high right now, but Rizzuto said that if rain doesn’t pick up, there could be trouble during the dry season, which runs November through May.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2025
Visiting a licensed dispensary with your ID and personal info to pick up your medicine.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Aug. 2025
Vera Bradley Featherweight Woodward Small Belt Bag More than 100 Amazon shoppers have picked up this water-repellent quilted belt bag from Vera Bradley in the past month.
—Emily Weaver, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pickup
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pickup
Verb
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What’s particularly telling is that this versatility has been mastered out of necessity for women athletes and teams.—
Lindsey Darvin,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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First, find all of the pieces, then master the art of folding each one into a rectangle, leaving one pillowcase off to the side.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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That includes common-sense steps like wearing insect repellent and covering up skin, as well as clearing out areas where standing water could be collecting, like flower pots, plastic containers, gutters, buckets, bird baths and kiddie pools.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Even in a best-case scenario, however, families likely will collect very little of the money they are owed.—
Tovia Smith,
NPR,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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American consumers and businesses buy pharmaceutical drugs, precious stones and textiles and apparel from India, among other goods.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
7 Aug. 2025
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Every copy bought helps further these efforts and gives more animals like JoJo the opportunity to find a loving home.—
Clea Haran,
Parents,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Flexible work models are also gaining traction, from four‑day weeks to job shares and compressed hours, enabling workers to maintain their income while reclaiming personal time.—
Andrew Fennell,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Kantar stats from end-July suggested HBO Max had gained around 400,000 subs since launch (20% of all new subs), accounting for around 5% of the country’s streaming market.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Fauna, meanwhile, might be lifted from the wood-block prints of Watanabe Seitei.—
Thessaly La Force,
Architectural Digest,
15 Aug. 2025
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The easiest way to determine root rot problems is to gently lift the entire plant, roots and all, free from its container, and inspect the roots.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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As of early Sunday afternoon, Israeli police say 38 protesters had been arrested across the country for disturbing the peace.—
From Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
17 Aug. 2025
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The owner of an ice cream shop was arrested on charges including child pornography after a hidden camera was discovered in the store bathroom, Illinois officials say.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Once the school reopens after an investigation period, Justine wants to resume teaching, but Marcus persuades her to lie low until the anger dies down.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Aug. 2025
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The Trump administration last month gave Nvidia assurances that it would be permitted to resume sales of its H20 chips to China, after their exports had been effectively banned in April.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In the case of the plastic eel, trim the tail to a slim taper.—
Anthony A. Ciuffa,
Outdoor Life,
7 Aug. 2025
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To see if your rose bush is dying or just dormant, trim a cane that looks dead and cut away some of the bark.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pickup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pickup. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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