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
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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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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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pick up
CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
The film, which is among the hot acquisition titles at the festival, picked up a grand jury prize and an audience award, both in dramatic categories.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
Students who are unable to be picked up will remain at school on a regular schedule.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
And while commercial industry has been picking up the gauntlet of much of the science, NASA still provides the majority of funding.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Verb
Ilya Sorokin stopped 20 of 21 shots to pick up his 18th victory in 32 starts this season.
—CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
The film, which is among the hot acquisition titles at the festival, picked up a grand jury prize and an audience award, both in dramatic categories.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
Students who are unable to be picked up will remain at school on a regular schedule.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
And while commercial industry has been picking up the gauntlet of much of the science, NASA still provides the majority of funding.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pick up
Verb
-
Some chefs dedicate themselves to tasting menus of one-bite intricacies, with every microgreen tweezered into place and every sauce drizzled just so; others master the art of deep-frying turkeys.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
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The bulk of the film features Bella, finally in vampire form, mastering her gift of shielding.—
Lincee Ray,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The homeowner later discovered the camera, and it was collected by police.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
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Across Europe, farmers and fishermen are collecting such items in an effort to save lives thousands of miles away.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Luckily, this look can also be achieved without buying anything new.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
2 Feb. 2026
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These vehicles, and potentially additional vehicles sold through this dealership, present a significant risk to innocent purchasers, who may unknowingly buy vehicles subject to seizure and forfeiture, resulting in both the loss of the vehicle and associated funds due to their status as contraband.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In recent years the genre has gained huge global fandom as more groups – like Blackpink and Twice – broke into the US charts, went on world tours, and collaborated with big American artists.—
Gawon Bae,
CNN Money,
2 Feb. 2026
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Then, later, more than 1,000 fans descended on Old Trafford itself, with hundreds gaining access to the stadium and getting onto the pitch, eventually causing the match, which was due to be aired live on Sky Sports, to be postponed.—
Chris McKenna,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The gains have lifted the precious-metals complex from platinum to palladium, and even base metals.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
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While vehicle sales declined, investor enthusiasm around AI helped lift the stock.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Dozens of asylum seekers like her, as well as refugees who passed a rigorous, years-long vetting process before being admitted to the United States, have been arrested in Minnesota in recent weeks, immigration lawyers and advocates say.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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The Texas Department of Public Safety said in a statement that officers arrested two people and used pepper balls after protesters did not heed orders to disperse, adding that demonstrators also breached a protest area and spit on officers.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Negotiations between the two sides are poised to resume on Sunday amid doubts about Moscow's commitment to a settlement.—
AAMER MADHANI AND SUSIE BLANN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
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Even during Covid and the immediate post-Covid period, growth resumed quickly.—
Peter Bendor-Samuel,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Federal Reserve, in an attempt to shore up a softening labor market, trimmed its benchmark lending rate by a quarter-point three straight times at the end of last year.—
Matt Ott,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The Black Edition has black all over, including the body, trim, 18-inch alloy wheels, skidplate, and grille—and even black glass, almost, or privacy glass.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pick up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pick%20up. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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