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
Running back Ryan Walters was just shy of 100 yards picking up 99 on 16 carries.
—
Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Nov. 2025
While reflecting on her first performance, Furtado remembered buying the pink dress from a store called Original on Queen West in Toronto, and also picking up some sparkly platform shoes for the monumental moment.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
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
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
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
Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Nov. 2025
While reflecting on her first performance, Furtado remembered buying the pink dress from a store called Original on Queen West in Toronto, and also picking up some sparkly platform shoes for the monumental moment.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
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
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
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
-
But Musk, a sci-fi fan, has long been focused on humanity colonizing Mars and mastering space travel.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The mastering guy gets more lines than the entire E Street Band.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The exhilarating Christmas Eve in Miller's Point wastes no time in assembling its massive cast of mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and pet lizards.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Tony Vitello will be tasked with assembling a new group of pitching coaches.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
People are still buying books, young and older readers alike.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Under the deal, users of the Amazon DSP (demand side platform) ad-buying system now have access to inventory on iHeartMedia’s streaming music and livestreaming radio channels.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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That approach may make early movements feel more controlled, like lifting a car seat or getting in and out of the driver’s side without bracing a hand on the door.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
11 Nov. 2025
-
This leads the pair to head to Florida over the holidays in hopes of lifting the dog’s spirits.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Start with one of Alexandra Llewellyn’s exquisite, handmade board games, which turns chess or backgammon into a feast for the eyes, so tactile and arresting, tempting you to play just one more game.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The video shows immigration agents arresting a man later identified as Dennis Quiñonez, as people shout that there is a child in the back of the car.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Since resuming the crackdown in July, police have referred at least 245 oversized vehicle households to the city’s safe parking program, Hoffman said.—
Kristen Taketa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The Late Nights & Young Romance Tour also continues with week with two nights in Brooklyn to close out the North American leg of the trek before resuming in New Zealand and Australia next month.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Tidy it up, trimming off any leggy, weak winter growth.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Arrange soaked ladyfingers in a single layer in bottom of an 8-inch square baking dish, trimming or breaking ladyfingers as needed to fit.—
Amanda Holstein,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
For example, when a manager gives feedback to a team member, Cisco's learning platform will combine that feedback with other data points, such as the employee's skills profile, to generate personalized learning recommendations.—
Kelly Jones,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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So did laws and court rulings that followed — barring Black men from the militia, barring Black adults from juries, barring Black children from learning alongside white children in public schools, and barring racial intermarriage.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Picking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking%20up. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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