1
as in mastering
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 assembling
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 buying
to get possession of (something) by giving money in exchange for
could you pick up some milk at the store?
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in growing (in)
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 lifting
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 arresting
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 cleaning 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 resuming
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 trimming
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
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Recent Examples of picking up
Mitchell Summers rambled for 250 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, including an 80-yard score, while Jack Snyder threw for 147 yards and a TD while picking up 68 yards on the ground.
—
Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
With the strong onshore winds picking up as the storm begins tracking north, coastal flooding will also exacerbate any flooding that occurs from heavy rainfall.
—Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2025
Shop like a star by picking up styles similar to those worn by Jennifer Garner, Emma Roberts, Natalie Portman, and Olivia Wilde.
—Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
An army of around 200 volunteers from the church and several charities were making food, picking up trash, guiding guests and MC'ing dance showcases, said Mary Cantrell, who has been a key organizer since 1993.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2025
Central had two players that had 20 or more carries with Martin picking up 129 yards on 22 carries and Taylor with 75 yards on 23 totes.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2025
Everton are picking up the pieces after a decade of turmoil.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
None are 100% at picking up cognitive issues.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Firefighters are staffing the fire through the night as winds are picking up again this evening, similar to last night.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
With the strong onshore winds picking up as the storm begins tracking north, coastal flooding will also exacerbate any flooding that occurs from heavy rainfall.
—Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2025
Shop like a star by picking up styles similar to those worn by Jennifer Garner, Emma Roberts, Natalie Portman, and Olivia Wilde.
—Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
An army of around 200 volunteers from the church and several charities were making food, picking up trash, guiding guests and MC'ing dance showcases, said Mary Cantrell, who has been a key organizer since 1993.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2025
Central had two players that had 20 or more carries with Martin picking up 129 yards on 22 carries and Taylor with 75 yards on 23 totes.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2025
Everton are picking up the pieces after a decade of turmoil.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
None are 100% at picking up cognitive issues.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Firefighters are staffing the fire through the night as winds are picking up again this evening, similar to last night.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picking up
Verb
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This is a company with much in common with the tech startup sector’s approach of capturing an audience fast and mastering monetisation later.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
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More impressively, its AI Modeling tools allow anyone to generate 3D models or reliefs from images or prompts, opening the door for newcomers who want to create without mastering traditional modeling software.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But Apple has also faced challenges in its early experiments manufacturing in the country, most notably at a Wistron factory in Bengaluru assembling older model iPhones, which saw a labor riot in late 2020.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Another phenomenon at play, though, is an adjustment in how teams are assembling themselves, especially given that three preseason top-3 squads since 2022 have ultimately fallen to unranked at some point in the season.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Except buying Madrid is impossible because the Spanish giants have never been for sale.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Celebrities, like Lisa from BLACKPINK, Lady Gaga, and Naomi Osaka have their own plush toys, while collectors have been buying and reselling these critters at an unbelievable pace and price.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Washington — The Federal Reserve is doing a difficult balancing act, trying to tamp down inflation while lifting up the job market, Chair Jerome Powell said Tuesday.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
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We are truly blessed to be surrounded by such a beautiful community lifting us in love and commitment.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Finance the economy is so challenged that more Americans are raising money to buy food—an arresting data point that captures the widening gap between household budgets and basic needs.—
Ashley Lutz,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Bodycam footage of police arresting a pile of macaroni and cheese.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Fortune’s reporting has highlighted rising delinquency rates among younger borrowers and the squeeze from student loan repayments resuming after a long pause.—
Ashley Lutz,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
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Third, Netanyahu's insistence on resuming fighting in Gaza to achieve absolute victory was never practical, as the United States learned in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and Israel in the West Bank.—
Ehud Barak,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Dividend cuts ‘would send shivers through Wall Street’ Clark Williams-Derry, energy finance analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), a non-profit organization, said trimming the share buybacks is likely Big Oil’s easiest option.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
13 Oct. 2025
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While holiday spending is expected to rise overall—especially for essential goods such as groceries, which are projected to increase by 23 percent—many shoppers are trimming their budgets in other areas.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the end, Krantz added, adopting a more strategic approach ultimately benefits customers, allowing companies to use their time and money more effectively by learning from the successes of others.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
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Link’s flight simulators supercharging our pilot training with adaptive decision-making under pressure; medical residents refining teamwork and communication in simulated trauma bays; managers learning leadership through live project crises with shifting constraints and incomplete information.—
Joe Boylan,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Picking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking%20up. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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