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?
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Residents, businesses and organizations are also invited to participate in the department’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline awareness campaign by picking up a 988 yard sign at the county office at 2170 Point Blvd.
—
Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
Hukporti barely had time to settle in before picking up three fouls in just under four minutes.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 7 May 2026
Widespread rainfall totals of an inch to 2 inches are possible through Friday across Southeast Texas, with isolated areas picking up 3 inches or more.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 7 May 2026
This is the latest example of Netflix picking up a series based on a digital format.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
Job cuts are picking up across the tech sector as companies reckon with the AI boom.
—Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Charges say surveillance video from the day care shows the woman picking up a child and falling backward into the wall, also slamming the child's head into the wall.
—Riley Moser, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Swapped is Jordan’s first movie since picking up the Best Actor nomination for Sinners.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
The White House has scheduled a party for Friday and you, taxpayer, will be picking up the check – in more ways than one.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 26 Mar. 2026
Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
Hukporti barely had time to settle in before picking up three fouls in just under four minutes.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 7 May 2026
Widespread rainfall totals of an inch to 2 inches are possible through Friday across Southeast Texas, with isolated areas picking up 3 inches or more.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 7 May 2026
This is the latest example of Netflix picking up a series based on a digital format.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
Job cuts are picking up across the tech sector as companies reckon with the AI boom.
—Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Charges say surveillance video from the day care shows the woman picking up a child and falling backward into the wall, also slamming the child's head into the wall.
—Riley Moser, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Swapped is Jordan’s first movie since picking up the Best Actor nomination for Sinners.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
The White House has scheduled a party for Friday and you, taxpayer, will be picking up the check – in more ways than one.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picking up
Verb
-
Europa-Park has surged in popularity by mastering regional destination tourism, unique cultural programming and showcasing pioneering attractions.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
Something that helped Minderman take the next step was mastering the change-up, according to junior catcher Alex Abraham.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2026
Verb
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That means assembling the right team — CPA, estate planner, business attorney, wealth adviser and real estate expert — and helping the client slow down long enough to think clearly.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
Blum noted how much the job of assembling movies has changed in recent years.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
The program forces major polluters to pay for their share of emissions by buying allowances at auctions or being granted them for free.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
Fear of family separation led immigrants like Yolanda to stop going to work, taking their children to school, and even attending medical appointments or buying food.—
Yuliana Montiel,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Japan has recently taken steps to expand its defense posture, including lifting its ban on lethal arms exports and mulling changes to Article 9 of its constitution, which renounces war and the maintenance of armed forces.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
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Aside from these new big punchers, the new space age is seeing a plethora of new companies seeking to cut themselves a slice of the market for lifting small payloads, often in multi-satellite deployments, into low Earth orbit.—
David Szondy
May 31,
New Atlas,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Goldman later cited a Manhattan federal district judge's late May ruling preventing ICE from arresting people attending immigration court during routine, mandatory check-ins.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
-
But the most arresting moments on Almost Waking come when Fratti opens her mouth.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Rather than avoiding overlap with the World Cup, the league is strategically resuming regular-season play during the knockout rounds, when fewer matches are scheduled and fan attention becomes more concentrated.—
Clemente Lisi,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
The trial is set to last for 10 days, resuming on Tuesday, June 2.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Protective measures range from trimming at-risk tree branches to replacing flimsy exterior doors with stronger ones.—
Jennifer Borresen,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
Michael is stepping into a really key role trimming the wing, which is probably one of the harder roles on the F50.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Where Learning Meets the Workforce An instructor assists a student with Swift programming in Miami Dade College’s hands-on learning environment.—
Miami Dade College,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2026
-
The gap between expectation and delivery revealed a broader need for learning environments grounded in everyday practice.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Picking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking%20up. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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