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?
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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
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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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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
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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?
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pick up
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2026
With a friend, slowly rake it across the floor to pick up dust and debris, and to push out larger objects from underneath the couch.
—Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 20 Feb. 2026
Season 3 picks up following the Season 2 finale cliffhanger, which found Emily and Sam finally sharing a romantic moment and agreeing to be honest about their pasts.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2026
The state’s Supreme Court picked up the party’s appeal of the earlier ruling.
—Olivia Diaz, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Verb
Combined with improved long-haul flight access and the country’s enduring appeal as a stable, nature-forward escape, American interest has picked up again.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2026
With a friend, slowly rake it across the floor to pick up dust and debris, and to push out larger objects from underneath the couch.
—Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 20 Feb. 2026
Season 3 picks up following the Season 2 finale cliffhanger, which found Emily and Sam finally sharing a romantic moment and agreeing to be honest about their pasts.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2026
The state’s Supreme Court picked up the party’s appeal of the earlier ruling.
—Olivia Diaz, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pick up
Verb
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The all-analog recording, pressed in flamenco-red 180-gram vinyl, was mastered and produced by Impex Records, whose LPs have achieved collector status among jazz connoisseurs.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
22 Feb. 2026
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During the recent craft barbecue revival, cooks first mastered their meat-smoking methods then turned to the stuff served alongside.—
Robert F. Moss,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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During this pivotal stretch TCU collected Quad 1 wins over Iowa State and Oklahoma State and now also own a quality Quad 2 win over the Mountaineers, who now likely need to make a run in the Big 12 Tournament to make the field of 68.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Feb. 2026
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Returning to the surface during Artemis III and Artemis IV, astronauts will capture observations, set up experiments and collect samples from their south pole landing site, the specifics of which remain to be determined.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Of the 63% of international fans who attended the Games, the United States, at 14%, bought the second-most tickets.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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That message has pleased some on the right, who have praised Paramount over its decision to buy The Free Press, cut ties with Stephen Colbert, and bring back one of the president’s favorite film franchises.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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With diesel engines remaining popular among Australian ute buyers and hybrids gaining ground, the company appears to be positioning the KP31 at the intersection of both trends.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
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Recent polling data indicates Republican candidates have gained competitive ground, with conservative commentator Steve Hilton leading the field at 17% support, followed by Democrat Eric Swalwell and Republican Chad Bianco tied at 14%, suggesting the race structure favors neither party decisively.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Takaichi has pledged to revise security and defense policies by December to bolster Japan's military capabilities, lifting a ban on lethal weapons exports and moving further away from postwar pacifist principles.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
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Several profit reports from companies helped to lift stocks Wednesday.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Murphy had been jailed since March 2021 when he was arrested on suspicion of killing his wife, Whitney Murphy, at their rural home in 2014 to collect life insurance money.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Feb. 2026
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Jones was arrested 15 years after his former teammate’s killing and has pleaded not guilty.—
Sofia Saric,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Continue reading … POLICY PIVOT — NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani to resume clearing homeless encampments after pausing policy.—
,
FOXNews.com,
19 Feb. 2026
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Construction resumed on downtown Miami’s oldest street, where road closures lingered for almost two years.—
Larry Seward,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The micro-style, trimmed with frills along the back, quickly found its way onto creator Devon Lee Carlson and rap artist Sexy Redd at Coachella, before subsequently selling out on the brand’s site.—
Amy Francombe,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026
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Where Frederick Wiseman’s attention is analytical and the Maysles brothers’ attention is dramatic, Depardon’s is a tree trunk—blunt, rough, heavy, a raw thing to hew that keeps its rings of history even after shaping and trimming.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pick up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pick%20up. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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