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
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 Navfalcon Hidden Camera Detector has earned a permanent spot in my travel bag; this gadget picks up the radio frequency (RF) signals that are emitted by cameras and alerts you when these wireless signals have been detected.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
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
Steve Sarkisian’s crew has wins over only San Jose State, UTEP and Sam Houston State, and thus a shocking number of questions as October gets rolling and SEC play picks up.
—Grace Raynor, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Just killing time Set some time after the events of the first game, Hades II picks up with the Greek Underworld once again in disarray.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
Season 2 picks up after Kimmie marries businessman Horace Bellarie, inheriting a new sense of power that angers her in-laws, Netflix said in its release.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
Of course, the FOMC only has a single policy tool, interest rates, so if unemployment rises and inflation picks up, then the FOMC’s decision making may be made more complicated.
—Simon Moore, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
The sequel picks up with Lindsay Lohan returning as Anna and Jamie Lee Curtis as her mom Tess Coleman, 22 years after their first body-swap comedy.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 9 Aug. 2025
Danielle Zickl, Outside, 11 Jan. 2026
This Navfalcon Hidden Camera Detector has earned a permanent spot in my travel bag; this gadget picks up the radio frequency (RF) signals that are emitted by cameras and alerts you when these wireless signals have been detected.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
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
Steve Sarkisian’s crew has wins over only San Jose State, UTEP and Sam Houston State, and thus a shocking number of questions as October gets rolling and SEC play picks up.
—Grace Raynor, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Just killing time Set some time after the events of the first game, Hades II picks up with the Greek Underworld once again in disarray.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
Season 2 picks up after Kimmie marries businessman Horace Bellarie, inheriting a new sense of power that angers her in-laws, Netflix said in its release.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
Of course, the FOMC only has a single policy tool, interest rates, so if unemployment rises and inflation picks up, then the FOMC’s decision making may be made more complicated.
—Simon Moore, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
The sequel picks up with Lindsay Lohan returning as Anna and Jamie Lee Curtis as her mom Tess Coleman, 22 years after their first body-swap comedy.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 9 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picks up
Verb
-
Stylist Chrissy Rasmussen masters the layered medium-length look on clients.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
20 Dec. 2025
-
Bette Davis masters a rare light comedy turn as Sherry's long-suffering secretary, with Jimmy Durante as a visitor from Broadway and Wizard of Oz (1939) good witch Billie Burke as the overwhelmed matriarch of the Stanley clan.—
Gwen Ihnat,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Nvidia primarily designs its chips in California and largely manufactures and assembles them in Asia.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
-
As Victor constructs his lab and assembles the Creature, the various stages of its creation are meticulously portrayed.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The couple also buys certain items in bulk from an organic food supplier, spending an average of about $300 a month on staples like rice, oats, olive oil, nuts and cheese.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Luminia would pay for the equipment, then CEA buys the power and delivers it to customers.—
Luke Harold,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The seat cushion lifts up to reveal a storage compartment for a secret spot to keep books, blankets, and other items.—
Ali Faccenda,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
That law also lifts Illinois’ nearly four-decade ban on new base-load nuclear power plants.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Bascombe is the one who arrests Jamie Miller (Cooper) under suspicion of murder.—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Police officer Hugo Crussi (Vogrincic) traces the voice to a young preacher, Jonas Flores (Zurita), and arrests him.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Service pauses during the show and resumes during a 20-minute intermission for desserts, coffee, tea and drinks.—
Susan Stapleton,
Des Moines Register,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The robot wheels forward on flat ground, raises its legs in a motion similar to a dog climbing stairs, and then resumes rolling where the terrain allows.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
To keep my beard looking attractive, a hairstylist trims it every two weeks.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
24 Dec. 2025
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As of October 27, the CME FedWatch tool derived from 30-Day Fed Funds futures implies a roughly 98% probability that the Fed trims the policy rate by 25 basis points this week.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
However, shortly before reuniting at David's wedding, Poppy learns — via Alex's brother — that Alex and Sarah broke off their engagement, but doesn't know why.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Throughout his snooping and jet-setting, Pine becomes infatuated with Roper’s girlfriend Jed (Elizabeth Debicki), who eventually learns his real identity and begins to plot a way out of her toxic relationship.—
Jake Kring-Schreifels,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Picks up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picks%20up. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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