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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4
as in growing (in)
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 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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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
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
In his next bout, Chimaev went the distance for the first time in his career, picking up a victory over Gilbert Burns.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Residents and students on their way home and parents picking up children from day care were caught in a tense lockdown that stretched into the night.
—Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025
Blackshear fell to the ground before picking up 2 yards, and the ball was placed on the Carolina 9-yard line for the Panthers’ first offensive possession.
—Charlotte Observer, 9 Aug. 2025
Now, his son picking up the pace balling out.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Ramsay asked, referring to Holland picking up the 007 mantle.
—Lauren Huff Published, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2025
In his next bout, Chimaev went the distance for the first time in his career, picking up a victory over Gilbert Burns.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Residents and students on their way home and parents picking up children from day care were caught in a tense lockdown that stretched into the night.
—Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025
Blackshear fell to the ground before picking up 2 yards, and the ball was placed on the Carolina 9-yard line for the Panthers’ first offensive possession.
—Charlotte Observer, 9 Aug. 2025
Now, his son picking up the pace balling out.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Ramsay asked, referring to Holland picking up the 007 mantle.
—Lauren Huff Published, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picking up
Verb
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Moving forward, mastering a personal podcast could replace soft-focus biographies or wonky books as a way for politicians to increase their profiles.—
David Bauder,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
For wardrobe stylist Kathryne Cole, mastering the fit is key to styling wide-leg jeans for your body type.—
Jessie Quinn,
Flow Space,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The final step is assembling mixed teams of humans and AI.—
Ron Schmelzer,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Within months, Penn was contacted by Brent Lawrence, the CEO of Accelerate Sports, a boutique investment bank that specializes in assembling ownership groups to pursue expansion franchises.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Cannon-Brookes wouldn’t specify whether Atlassian considered buying Google’s browser.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
-
And sometimes, buying prepared bamboo shoots in a can is the easiest way to spruce up a dish.—
Sophie Carson,
jsonline.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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Save for slightly fleshing out some of these roles, Ozon’s script is loyal to the point of lifting most lines of dialogue verbatim.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Federal immigration authorities arresting a woman in downtown Los Angeles had their vehicle towed away by a tow truck driver who is accused of filming and laughing as one officer chased after him, according to court documents.—
Julia Marnin,
Sacbee.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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The result is an arresting harmony of elegance and attitude, sculptural and bold, yet anchored in refinement.—
Felicity Carter,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This discovery suggests a much more active early Earth, but this tectonic activity was still unstable, with crust sinking down not in a continuous motion, but in pulses, stopping for millions of years and then resuming activity.—
David Bressan,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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Here's what to know about late-night talk shows resuming with new episodes.—
Christopher Rudolph,
People.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Management responded by trimming 2025 EPS guidance by more than 10% to $30.—
John Buckingham,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier spoke to the media on Wednesday, the day after trimming the team’s roster to 53 by the league’s deadline.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Her 8-year-old son Auron has been studying the diverse plants that grow there and learning to pull up invasive species.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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After teachers in his district suggested banning ChatGPT just a few years ago, School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Tony Watlington told ABC News that instead of removing AI, Philadelphia is now learning from it together.—
Arthur Jones II,
ABC News,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Picking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking%20up. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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