1
as in masters
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 assembles
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 buys
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 grows (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 lifts
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 arrests
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 cleans 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 resumes
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 trims
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 picks up
Russell Westbrook picks up the 100th triple-double of his career and the Oklahoma City Thunder uses a 16-0 run late in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Atlanta Hawks for a 119-107 victory.
—
Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
The new installment picks up right where the 2019 horror-thriller left off.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026
Clouds increase as the wind picks up through the day Sunday.
—Cutter Martin, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
Shop comfortable, stylish picks up to 58 percent off, starting at just $34.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2026
The 17e, which at $599 is now the least-expensive model in the iPhone 17 series, picks up where the 16e left off.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
The Long Game picks up around three years after the events of Heated Rivalry and finds Shane and Ilya still dating in secret.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026
The lymphatic system picks up the lymph (and other bacteria, waste, and toxins) and carries it away to be cleaned and recycled to prevent your body from swelling.
—Danielle Zickl, Outside, 11 Jan. 2026
This picks up any holding with both an honor and the nine onside, which outweighs the alternative play of finessing the 10.
—Deb Harvell, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2025
Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
The new installment picks up right where the 2019 horror-thriller left off.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026
Clouds increase as the wind picks up through the day Sunday.
—Cutter Martin, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
Shop comfortable, stylish picks up to 58 percent off, starting at just $34.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2026
The 17e, which at $599 is now the least-expensive model in the iPhone 17 series, picks up where the 16e left off.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
The Long Game picks up around three years after the events of Heated Rivalry and finds Shane and Ilya still dating in secret.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026
The lymphatic system picks up the lymph (and other bacteria, waste, and toxins) and carries it away to be cleaned and recycled to prevent your body from swelling.
—Danielle Zickl, Outside, 11 Jan. 2026
This picks up any holding with both an honor and the nine onside, which outweighs the alternative play of finessing the 10.
—Deb Harvell, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picks up
Verb
-
From basic fraud claims and partnership disputes to the more esoteric involving combustion turbines, citrus canker or automobile line recalls or land use development issues, Waldman masters the material and, time and again, has delivered big-time results for his clients.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Stylist Chrissy Rasmussen masters the layered medium-length look on clients.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
20 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Turner assembles a kaleidoscope of archival footage, performance clips, still photography, and interviews with his Arkestra members and contemporary thinkers who map Sun Ra’s long cultural afterlife.—
Lisa Wong Macabasco,
Vogue,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The All-Star Orchestra assembles principal players from orchestras in what organizers say is the largest Mozart festival in North America.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
China buys large amounts of oil from Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East – which have been affected by the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.—
Jennifer Pak,
NPR,
8 Mar. 2026
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Formed in 1985, The Conservation Fund is a national nonprofit environmental organization that buys at-risk land with high conservation values for the purpose of turning it over to long-term ownership dedicated to environmental preservation.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That lifts the cap to $59,950 for an individual or $85,600 for a family of four.—
Mark Dee
March 12,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Aubrey talked about Fairbairn’s contract being the rising tide that lifts all boats.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Department of Damage Control arrests Trevor.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The sheer scale of an estate for sale in San Francisco’s tony Pacific Heights neighborhood — a residence spanning 26,000 square feet, or the equivalent of 10 average homes — arrests the imagination.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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What happened overnight Escalating hostilities in the Middle East and widening stress on oil shipping and infrastructure have global investors braced for more turbulence when trading resumes.—
Angus Whitley,
Bloomberg,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The game resumes two minutes later, when the ‘tactical timeout’ is over.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The jersey also includes a jock tag depicting a dove carrying an olive branch, while the Pride’s familiar purple trims the collar, cuffs and player lettering.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Like other series in a similar position, most notably Dick Wolf’s dramas, Grey’s Anatomy has gone through budget trims the last couple of seasons, including reducing the episodic guarantees of veteran cast members the last two years, with each appearing in 14 of the show’s 18 episodes each season.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Effectively scaring a bear also reinforces the person as dominant in an encounter, so the bear learns to avoid people.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Dafoe plays Lucius, who has managed an iconic hotel in Vienna for 30 years and learns the building has been sold to an Argentine developer who plans on demolishing it.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Picks up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picks%20up. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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