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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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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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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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pick up
Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Her senior season, 2020-21, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and though her high school team picked up exhibition games here and there to keep players active, Fudd went two full years without competing at the level to which she was accustomed.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
Volodymyr Dudnyk was picked up by Ukrainian military draft officers almost immediately after crossing the border into Ukraine following his deportation from the United States.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
With the ball staying fair — and eliciting an emphatic reaction from Amed Rosario near the Bombers’ bench — the Yankees picked up their first homer of the season and their first runs of the day.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Verb
Public Works crews have been picking up sand and moving it onto beaches that need it most.
—Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Her senior season, 2020-21, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and though her high school team picked up exhibition games here and there to keep players active, Fudd went two full years without competing at the level to which she was accustomed.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
Volodymyr Dudnyk was picked up by Ukrainian military draft officers almost immediately after crossing the border into Ukraine following his deportation from the United States.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
With the ball staying fair — and eliciting an emphatic reaction from Amed Rosario near the Bombers’ bench — the Yankees picked up their first homer of the season and their first runs of the day.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pick up
Verb
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The young girl is reading at a 12th-grade level and mastering math concepts such as fractions, decimals and even exponents.—
Jasmine Viel,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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The duality applies to the whole team, which has seemingly mastered compartmentalizing its fun side and its serious side, tapping into one personality or the other on command.—
Haley Sawyer,
Daily News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Each year, Heal the Bay collects trash from beaches and watersheds across Los Angeles County with the help of thousands of volunteers.—
CBS LA Staff,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Data broker websites collect and sell information pulled from public records, marketing databases and online activity.—
Roxanne Downer,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Going to a local bike shop instead of buying online can help, enabling riders to ask questions, take a test ride and learn what’s legal and what isn’t.—
Sarah Raza,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
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Whoever sold oil futures and bought stock futures had made a lot of money in a short time.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Chaiwalas, or street tea venders, have long been taken as emblems of the small-scale entrepreneurialism by which uneducated Indians can gain subsistence, and, in theory, something more.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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The Tea Party protests that began to erupt in 2009 among conservatives opposed to President Barack Obama were credited with boosting Republican turnout in the 2010 midterms, when the GOP gained 63 seats and control of the House of Representatives in a red wave.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Severino struggled with his control, walking five and throwing just 49 of his 91 pitches for strikes before he was lifted after 3 1/3 innings.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Trump has also made statements that lifted markets, only to see the gains quickly disappear after increasing his military threats.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Officials said the shooter, an Army sergeant who worked at the base, used his personal handgun before he was tackled by fellow soldiers and arrested.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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The Erie County District Attorney's Office said Shah Alam was arrested following an incident that resulted in minor injuries to two Buffalo police officers.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Hershey will resume using chocolate in most of its products after the grandson of the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups publicly criticized the company.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
2 Apr. 2026
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In the past, Bravo has resumed filming when controversies including its shows have arisen, most notably with the Vanderpump Rules season 10 cheating scandal called Scandoval.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Build buffer time, trim one commitment, then return to the itinerary with even gentler expectations and a simpler packing list.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
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His volunteering includes helping seniors by mowing their lawns, trimming their hedges and bringing them dinner on holidays.—
Janice Neumann,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pick up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pick%20up. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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