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
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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
Especially at Louisville, just making that big jump, picking up full court, just being a dog, being scrappy, getting through screens, just everything like that.
—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
25 June 2026
Reese looked cooked after picking up four quick fouls in the first half, spending way too much time riding the pine.
—
Alejandro Avila Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Folks shivering in the freezing cold to deliver our packages, picking up trash to keep our parks clean.
—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
These crafts are perfect for putting down your phone and picking up a creative outlet.
—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 June 2026
Be sure to give your eyes time to adjust and use your phone's camera to scan the sky, as your phone's camera is better at picking up faint auroras than the naked eye.
—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
4 June 2026
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
Every other Knicks starter played 37 or more minutes picking up the slack.
—
Kristian Winfield,
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
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
25 June 2026
Reese looked cooked after picking up four quick fouls in the first half, spending way too much time riding the pine.
—
Alejandro Avila Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Folks shivering in the freezing cold to deliver our packages, picking up trash to keep our parks clean.
—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
These crafts are perfect for putting down your phone and picking up a creative outlet.
—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 June 2026
Be sure to give your eyes time to adjust and use your phone's camera to scan the sky, as your phone's camera is better at picking up faint auroras than the naked eye.
—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
4 June 2026
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
Every other Knicks starter played 37 or more minutes picking up the slack.
—
Kristian Winfield,
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picking up
Verb
-
For resistance training, that may mean starting with lighter weights and mastering technique before increasing load.
-
Moving beyond self-expression, the goal for McKendrick has become mastering the art of turning private experiences into universal ones.
Verb
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Erika Bahr, founder and CEO of Daxe, had spent over a year assembling this coalition, intentionally collapsing the walls between every stakeholder in women’s economic participation into a single room.
-
This unique telescope is using the world’s largest digital camera to scan the entire southern sky every few nights, assembling what will become the most lavishly detailed time-lapse of the cosmos humanity has ever envisioned.
Verb
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The de Kansky family settled in California, first in Los Angeles, then in Newport Beach, followed by three years in Altadena before buying a home in Sierra Madre.
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This is still more affordable than buying mesclun at the grocery store, which will cost you $3 to $6 for a 5- to 16-ounce package.
Verb
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To remain tuition-free, Miss Major Middle is launching as a microschool, a nontraditional educational model gaining traction nationwide.
-
Living with less and gaining more Life here isn’t perfect.
Verb
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Rookie Jacob Gonzalez delivered a walk-off single in the ninth inning, lifting the Sox to a 2-1 victory against the Royals in front of 28,569 at Rate Field.
-
South Florida’s task forces won’t just be bringing manpower, but also equipment for breaching, lifting and supporting structures in collapsed zones.
Verb
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An Observer reporter witnessed officers arresting one individual wearing a custom face mask and another who was placed in the back of a police four-wheeler.
-
Making a comeback on the Milan men’s calendar after a decade’s absence and under new ownership, Caruso made a big impression with its breezy and slyly nonchalant tailoring done up in an arresting array of unusual colors.
Verb
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The defense attorney's opening remarks were disrupted as Pino continued to visibly react, and the jurors left the courtroom, with opening statements resuming the following day.
-
Any update on resuming stock buybacks will be notable, too.
Verb
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This factor was vastly dwarfed by organizational restructuring, budget cuts, and economic conditions, which are all far more standard explanations historically used by corporations to justify trimming jobs.
-
Consider trimming a task list, then schedule a quiet break between meetings to recharge.
Cite this Entry
“Picking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking%20up. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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