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
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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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
When this happens for a car attacking on a corner’s outside, the driver on the inside can run their rival fully out wide without picking up a penalty.
—
Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 13 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
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
Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 13 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
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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True freedom isn't a future milestone; it's built from day one by designing for mobility, choosing clients who respect boundaries, building self-sufficient systems, mastering asynchronous communication, and pricing for a location-independent lifestyle.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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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
Verb
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Focused, Not Flashy Industry rivals are assembling sprawling portfolios.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
It was found that CFAP91 acts as a scaffold, a key component for assembling the radial spoke 3 (RS3) complex in the flagellum.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The following year, the group made its first acquisition by buying a controlling stake in FC Como Women, which competes in Italy’s top-tier women’s soccer league, Serie A Femminile.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
-
As long as there are no other outbreaks, shoppers can expect cooler prices heading into the holiday season in addition to an abatement of egg-buying restrictions at grocery stores.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But then the gel starts lifting up at the corners and catching on things like your hair.—
Megan McIntyre,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
After lifting the ban in 2017, her country has come a long way, too.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Climate change has reduced its size dramatically, to a ghost of its former self, but the surrounding mountains are still arresting.—
Thomas Page McBee,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Sep. 2025
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The plaintiffs later accused the department of violating the order by hitting journalists with batons and arresting them during an August protest.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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With the incident now fully resolved, Terminal 4 has reopened, and normal operations are resuming.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Sep. 2025
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In a video of the attack, Johnson is seen choking Cundiff for more than a minute and a half, resuming the strangling after Cundiff appeared unconscious, causing injuries to his throat and face.—
Miguel Torres,
AZCentral.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Scott's expertise in embellishment and her ability to execute it in the most chic way prevailed; whether as crystal beading on the cape-style lapel of a jacket, a delicate fur-like fringe in neon green flanking a black dress, or a tubular velvet rope trimming the edges of tank-style pieces.—
Roxanne Robinson,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Something as simple as trimming nails or cutting hair also takes on new challenges, as without gravity, every tiny clipping would drift around, potentially clogging equipment or entering astronauts' eyes or lungs.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Appreciation means valuing the struggle of learning, not despite its difficulty but because of it.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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Laura is frantic about saving Daniel after learning Cherry pushed her father from a construction site, fracturing his spine in two places.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Picking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking%20up. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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