picked 1 of 2

adjective

ˈpikt How to pronounce picked (audio)
Definition of pickednext
as in selected
singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking a picked group of people for the project

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picked

2 of 2

verb

past tense of pick
1
as in harvested
to catch or collect (a crop or natural resource) for human use pick peas and beans from the garden for dinner

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chose
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities I pick you as my partner

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3
as in provoked
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being he seems to be trying to pick a fight

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4
as in nibbled
to eat reluctantly and in small bites still suffering from the shock of his wife's death, he could do no more than pick halfheartedly at his food

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in stabbed
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object continued to pick the block of ice until she was able to extract the shrimp

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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 picked
Verb
The move was relatively low-risk for the Lakers, who picked Bronny 55th overall. — Matt Calkins Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Nov. 2026 Coach Reggie Theus’ team is picked to finish first in the SWAC preseason poll after winning the regular-season title last year. — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026 Apollo 2 picked metal brackets from supply bins and placed them into sequencing containers, adjusting its movements when necessary. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Nov. 2026 But Newton himself was president of the society and hand-picked the investigating committee. — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2026 Trump on Monday picked Colyer to serve as ambassador to the oil-rich United Arab Emirates. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 10 Nov. 2026 All of our recs have been tested and hand-picked, at prices worth shopping before the holiday rush kicks in. — Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Nov. 2026 Butkus Award finalist Henley picked Washington State over teams like USC, Washington and Kansas State for his final collegiate season. — Sam Jane, Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2026 Stephanie picked Gwen’s footprints, but the tattoo artist had to size them down to fit. — Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 8 Nov. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picked
  1. selected
  2. harvested
  3. took
  4. provoked
  5. nibbled
  6. stabbed
  7. select
  8. gathered
Adjective
  • In selected circumstances, private ownership can provide the time, capital and operating flexibility needed to reposition the business away from quarterly market pressure.
    — Chris Russo, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the first stage can handle different solid rocket motors for pre-selected range, speed, and performance profiles, as well as different booster types and other modular components.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of selected
Verb
  • My family still weaves jewelry from kunngobarn (pandanus), harvested fresh from the bush with a manmarli (hooked stick), then dried and dyed with roots, berries, and flowers.
    — Liam Freeman, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2026
  • As of Sunday, Illinois farmers had harvested 93% of their corn and 96% of their soybeans.
    — Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of harvested
Verb
  • Philadelphia took control late in the third quarter and entered the final period leading 96-87.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Betts made back-to-back baskets before Donovyn Hunter hit a three-pointer that made it 14-4 a little more than four minutes into the game and the Bruins took a 13-point lead into halftime.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of took
Verb
  • That’s not to say that examining the forces that provoked Tuesday’s rout is a waste of time.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Not to be all nostalgic, but there is a long history of the Steppenwolf audience showing up precisely to be provoked, made to think, or satirized themselves.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of provoked
Verb
  • Miss Traynor—a kind of nightmare version of the Queen of the Night—appears swathed in an enormous, mildewing white dress, its hems nibbled by rubber pig heads.
    — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Kikuko, her appetite sluggish, nibbled the bread bit by bit from the edges, all the while furtively watching her father.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of nibbled
Verb
  • Police have arrested a 27-year-old former NYPD cop and city substitute school aide for the murder of Brooklyn jogger Katie Suarez, who was stabbed to death during a run along the Brooklyn waterfront, multiple police sources said Saturday.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Prosecutors say the teen stabbed a 16-year-old boy in the upper chest with a 4-inch kitchen knife, seriously injuring the victim.
    — Jennifer McLogan, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of stabbed
Adjective
  • Here's the full Premier League schedule for matchweek 10, and how to watch select matches for free.
    — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Saatva is also taking an extra 40% off select bedroom rugs and offering $200 off purchases of two nightstands.
    — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of select
Verb
  • This week, ahead of Abu Dhabi’s flagship energy conference ADIPEC, senior executives and CEOs from the energy industry gathered to discuss the challenges facing the industry under the Chatham House Rule.
    — Amena Bakr, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
  • At the news conference, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said investigators at his office gathered video evidence, interviewed witnesses and worked closely with prosecutors to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of gathered

Phrases Containing picked

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picked
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Cite this Entry

“Picked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picked. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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