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
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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?
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4
as in to gain
to gradually increase in
the boat was just picking up speed when it was rammed by another boat
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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
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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
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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?
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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
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9
as in to trim
to make neat
the boy's bedroom looked like it hadn't been picked up in quite a while
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pick up
Irene Wright, USA Today, 1 May 2026
By the time the project was ready to be taken out in 2021, Port and Wiseman were working on Ghosts, which had been picked up to series in March of that year.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 1 May 2026
Sony Pictures Classics has picked up the worldwide rights to Wishful Thinking, Graham Parkes’ directorial debut that stars Lewis Pullman and Maya Hawke.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2026
Parking is free in the lot behind the theater; a parking pass must be picked up at the main office in the lobby.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Verb
Also on the ballot for Democrats are Jason Esteves, picking up speed just in time for the primary, as well as Olu Brown, Amanda Duffy and Derrick Jackson.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 1 May 2026
By the time the project was ready to be taken out in 2021, Port and Wiseman were working on Ghosts, which had been picked up to series in March of that year.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 1 May 2026
Sony Pictures Classics has picked up the worldwide rights to Wishful Thinking, Graham Parkes’ directorial debut that stars Lewis Pullman and Maya Hawke.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2026
Parking is free in the lot behind the theater; a parking pass must be picked up at the main office in the lobby.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pick up
Verb
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Pig organs are similar enough in size and function to humans', but transplanting entire organs was completely out of reach until about a decade ago when scientists began mastering gene editing well enough to breed pigs whose organs are less likely to be rejected by the human immune system.—
Karen Weintraub,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
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Bonitto has mastered the art of the get-off, boasting one of the fastest in the league.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Learn More Information about the BJ's One® Mastercard® has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
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People who collect rare books are book lovers, first and foremost.—
Marc Weingarten,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
Verb
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The people who can buy are increasingly the people who have someone to call.—
Blake O'Shaughnessy,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
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And look, the only facts that distinguishes this case from those people buying things on Amazon or posting things on Amazon is not any particular facts that are not visible to the public.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
Verb
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In the early nineteenth century, more than a dozen colonies in the Americas gained their freedom, including Haiti, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Peru.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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As well as receiving cash to reinvest directly into their businesses, the 5 winners will gain access to Zoom mentorship, technology resources, and partnerships.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
Verb
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The Benedictine recruit came up with nine huge saves for the shutout to lift visiting Sandburg to a 1-0 SouthWest Suburban Conference win over district rival Andrew in Tinley Park.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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The productivity boom, in this reading, isn’t lifting all boats.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Last month, Spears was arrested in Westlake Village by the California Highway Patrol.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
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The man accused of murdering him was arrested and charged less than a week later.—
Luke Parker,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Each puzzle was paired with a specific sound, which was supposed to prompt them to resume work on the associated puzzle.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
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While a settlement appeared close with negotiations to resume Wednesday afternoon, the dispute has taken a toll.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Regularly trim ground cover plants around trees.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
30 Apr. 2026
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Revisions also have trimmed 69,000 jobs from December and January payrolls, a sign that the labor market remains under strain.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pick up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pick%20up. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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