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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pick up
Annie Blackman, InStyle, 13 Jan. 2026
Monday marked a bump in the road after a solid start this year, which had picked up where 2025 left off.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2026
The latest book picks up where the Heated Rivalry sequel, The Long Game, left off, with Shane and Ilya's relationship entering an exciting — and terrifying — new stage.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
In its Cannes premiere, Sirāt won a Jury Prize, with Ray picking up the Cannes Soundtrack Award.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Verb
Calvin Klein Cotton Modal Thong Speaking of Valentine’s Day, picking up a fresh pair of comfy-cute undies is my favorite way to celebrate.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 13 Jan. 2026
Monday marked a bump in the road after a solid start this year, which had picked up where 2025 left off.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2026
The latest book picks up where the Heated Rivalry sequel, The Long Game, left off, with Shane and Ilya's relationship entering an exciting — and terrifying — new stage.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
In its Cannes premiere, Sirāt won a Jury Prize, with Ray picking up the Cannes Soundtrack Award.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pick up
Verb
-
The Cowboys have mastered the art of entertaining and interesting better than any sports franchise in the world, but there is a redundancy that to the person who spends a lot of their money on it is justifiably checked out.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Jan. 2026
-
At the sound level, our engineer is a guy who makes all the greatest dance music in the Latin world right now [Josh Gudwin is the records’ mixing engineer and Dale Becker mastering engineer].—
Leonor C. Suárez,
Rolling Stone,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The following burglaries are from reports collected from the Little Rock Police Department.—
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette,
Arkansas Online,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Since then, she's collected 45 years' worth of passport stamps, crossing off destinations like Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Thailand, Bhutan, Morocco, and Kenya on her travel wish list.—
Stephanie Gray,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
More than 5,000 people have bought it at Amazon and given it high ratings.—
Kristine Hansen,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Jan. 2026
-
A lot of schools are running black and gold days on Monday, so local people are coming in, and travelers are buying stuff to wear to the game.—
Jessica Riley,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
These special moments have helped the monks’ walk gain traction on social media, where their Facebook following recently surpassed 1 million followers.—
Christina Shaw,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
-
As the protests gained momentum, Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, began posting messages calling for a general uprising.—
Karl Vick,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The mission will lift off from the Kennedy Space Center, where SpaceX will also launch the Crew-12 astronauts.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Syria’s transitional president has succeeded in lifting the siege.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Deputies arrested Sargent on Thursday on two felony animal-cruelty counts and one misdemeanor count.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) demanded that if and when Customs and Border Protection Commander Gregory Bovino returns to Chicago, he should be arrested.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Giddey has resumed some off-ball activities such as stop-and-start sprints, but coach Billy Donovan said he hasn’t been cleared for a full slate of cutting, running and sprinting.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Fox then resumed workouts and added 15 pounds of muscle, growing to 205.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Vergara's plunging red corset gown was covered in beads and trimmed with feathers.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The site does this by using AI tools coupled with Google Earth to find and measure the customer’s yard and come up with a price for basic mowing or premium services, which include trimming and weeding.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pick up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pick%20up. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
