picks off

present tense third-person singular of pick off
as in intercepts
to stop, seize, or interrupt while in progress or on course picked off more passes than any other player in the division

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of picks off But Johnson or another defensive back picks off Lagway to end a Baylor rally attempt. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Aug. 2026 Miami also seemed to make some picks off measurables. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 26 June 2026 Riq Woolen picks off Jalen Hurts about 15 yards up the right sideline, jumps in front of Dallas Goedert. — Zach Berman, New York Times, 11 June 2026 George Rose / Getty Images Over the course of his NFL playing days, Jim had 19 interceptions, including picks off the likes of legendary quarterbacks like Len Dawson, Archie Manning and Joe Namath. — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picks off
Verb
  • Defensive player of the week Junior defensive back Jaden Wright makes six tackles, intercepts a pass, recovers a fumble and also returns a punt 55 yards for a touchdown during Warren’s 49-0 North Suburban Conference win over Waukegan.
    — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026
  • DeLand’s Gardner Nordman intercepts a Max Chapman pass and Bulldogs have the ball at their own 27 yard line.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Lithium grabs the spotlight, but cheap and abundant sodium has long held the key to large-scale energy storage.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Testing spoons stored in a manner where lip contact surface contamination could happen when employee grabs the spoon from container.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • According to the team at the Francis Crick Institute, adult fruit flies have a hydrophobic lipid coating made of long hydrocarbon molecules that blocks water loss.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The idea is that, although their paralysis blocks the neural signals from reaching their muscles, those signals are still generated in the brain.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Picks off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picks%20off. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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