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
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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?
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
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Recent Examples of pick up
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
See All Example Sentences for 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
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pick up
Verb
-
How humans write, speak, code and compose was easily scraped off the internet, but the bots need more information to master how to stand, step, lift, squeeze, pour and perform other physical movements.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
-
Between Luxury Storytelling and Fast Fashion Scale Luxury brands have long mastered the art of cultural storytelling but often remain constrained by accessibility and scale.—
Esade Business & Law School,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Mission Viejo right fielder Riley Campbell collected her third hit in the seventh to bring the tying run to the plate but Herrera escaped another jam to spark a celebratory dogpile.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
31 May 2026
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In total, the campaign collected a total of 7,500 legitimate signatures, 2,500 short of the state requirement.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
In any case, Judy doesn’t buy it.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
1 June 2026
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Follow Eva Longoria’s lead and buy the bestselling Plongeant, the sleek style with a plunging neckline.—
Mary Winston Nicklin,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Hard-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella emerged as the unlikely vote leader on Sunday, gaining some 44% of votes and beating the pollsters’ favorite, leftist Senator Ivan Cepeda, who received just under 41% of votes.—
Alfie Pannell,
Miami Herald,
31 May 2026
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The organization said scientific knowledge did not confirm that hormone therapy could fully eliminate the advantages gained from male puberty.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
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All closures were lifted about five hours after they were put in place.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
-
While a 100kW motor is far too small to lift a commercial airliner, the Strathclyde team views this success as the definitive proof of concept.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Gledhill was arrested and transported to Van Nuys Jail, where he was booked on suspicion of murder.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2026
-
Jacqueline Denise Robinson, 58, was arrested Thursday following an investigation into financial exploitation involving elderly victims.—
Kairi Lowery,
Miami Herald,
5 June 2026
Verb
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The war will likely resume at intervals over the next few years, with grave consequences for all concerned.—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
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Karen Read watches jurors enter the courtroom to resume deliberations during her trial at Norfolk Superior Court, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Dedham, Mass.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Verb
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New York has trimmed San Antonio’s lead from eight to three, all with Jalen Brunson on the bench with a knee issue.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
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Maintaining your yard by mowing, removing leaf litter, and trimming vegetation reduces tick habitats.—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pick up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pick%20up. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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