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
Two years ago, Mitchell began hearing the same concerns over and over from her mother, a daycare owner who regularly picks up children from Stege Elementary in Richmond.
—
Brad Hamilton, CBS News, 23 Jan. 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 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
Brad Hamilton, CBS News, 23 Jan. 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 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
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
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In addition, Jeff and Carl will be making homemade Jalapeño dinner rolls while our Angels in Service staff assembles a fresh creamy coleslaw.—
Gary Paun,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
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In Ethiopia, Belayneh Kinde Group (BKG) assembles about 150 minibuses a month using Chinese components.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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An Ingham County man who only buys $50 instant lottery tickets can now afford a lot more of them.—
Tanya Wildt,
Freep.com,
19 Feb. 2026
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The prequel, which tells the story of a corporate arms race to develop immortality and the dark consequences that inevitably emerge, relies heavily on a cast that clearly buys into the premise from the very beginning.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After the fog lifts this morning, skies across the area will stay cloudy to mostly cloudy.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The House bill, and its Senate counterpart, Senate Bill 594, which passed on Wednesday, lifts that restriction.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Department of Damage Control arrests Trevor.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
27 Jan. 2026
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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
-
Florida resumes its schedule on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
22 Feb. 2026
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Heat coach Erik Spoelstra hinted ahead of the break that Herro would be back with the team for their stretch run, now with 26 games remaining in a regular season that resumes Friday against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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That figure is likely to keep sliding, particularly if the Fed trims rates later this year.—
Darla Mercado, CFP®,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Using a core of sensors and spatial intelligence, the robot sees the engine’s complexity and learns to navigate around obstacles that would stump a standard machine.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Feb. 2026
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The first is the showdown with Whitney on CNN after Eric learns he’s being blackmailed.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Picks up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picks%20up. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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