1
as in to master
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 to collect
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 to buy
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 to gain
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 to lift
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 to arrest
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 to clean 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 to resume
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 to trim
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
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 pick up
Donald Heflin, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
Agosto reportedly said that Larissa had picked up drinking Alani Nu energy drinks — at least one a day — in the year leading up to her death due to social media posts, which advertised the drink’s health benefits and energy boost, per NBC News and Fox 8.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
After the success of the video series, a pilot was picked up for PBS — and producers wanted Duncan to reprise her role in the television series.
—Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026
Her tweets had been picked up by popular X accounts like PopCrave and DiscussingFilm, with people sharing their incredulity over the situation.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Verb
Pakistan, which deserves praise for stepping in, picked up on this and offered to serve as an intermediary.
—Donald Heflin, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
Agosto reportedly said that Larissa had picked up drinking Alani Nu energy drinks — at least one a day — in the year leading up to her death due to social media posts, which advertised the drink’s health benefits and energy boost, per NBC News and Fox 8.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
After the success of the video series, a pilot was picked up for PBS — and producers wanted Duncan to reprise her role in the television series.
—Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026
Her tweets had been picked up by popular X accounts like PopCrave and DiscussingFilm, with people sharing their incredulity over the situation.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pick up
Verb
-
If ever mastered, this could help things like submarines navigate freely underwater without ever having to surface.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Not every skill needs to be mastered from day one.—
Karla Vallecillo,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Each room receives a butler (mine had been with the company for ten plus years) who anticipates your every need–brings you coffee in the morning and collects your laundry.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Its core instrument, the Infrared Sounder, collects temperature profiles and humidity profiles.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
One of those facing the budget ax is a program called Market Match, which helps low-income people buy produce, while supporting the farmers who grow it.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The Lenovo Legion Go 2 price is skyrocketing, and the latest hike hits the best version money can buy.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Among them, two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are gaining traction as a promising post-Moore pathway, offering atomically thin structures that could enable continued transistor scaling while improving energy efficiency and performance.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Fox News Digital previously reported that Costco Travel has gained traction among budget-conscious travelers looking to maximize savings.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hired by Hornets co-owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin in April 2024 to bring the franchise out of its decade-long doldrum, and joined at the hip with coach Charles Lee, Peterson has quickly lifted the Hornets to respectability, pushing Charlotte among the NBA’s rising teams.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Andrés Giménez chased after one above the zone, lifting a shallow fly ball that Teoscar Hernández could corral without allowing a run to score.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Game warden testifies about arresting Horner Texas Game Warden Josh Espinoza was the first witness to testify on Wednesday morning.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
-
In 2022, a prominent former member of the national team was arrested for allegedly protesting against the country's leadership.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The statement came a day after Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, which halted six weeks of fighting and sparked a brief relief rally in global markets amid growing optimism that energy flows may resume in the Strait of Hormuz.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Marine tracking data showed no ships transiting the strait following an earlier report that traffic had resumed after the ceasefire came into effect.—
Tricia Escobedo,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Get a hedge-and-branch trimming bundle at a huge discount.—
Andrew P. Collins,
The Drive,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Airlines are responding cautiously, trimming schedules and adjusting prices in ways that experts say will ripple unevenly across the market but ultimately affect nearly every type of traveler.—
Rio Yamat,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pick up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pick%20up. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
