pick

1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈpik

picked; picking; picks

Synonyms of pick next

transitive verb

: to pierce, penetrate, or break up with a pointed instrument

picked the hard clay

: to remove bit by bit

pick meat from bones

: to remove covering or adhering matter from

pick the bones

: to gather by plucking

pick apples

: choose, select

tried to pick the shortest route

: to make (one's way) slowly and carefully

picked his way through the rubble

: pilfer, rob

pick pockets

: to obtain useful information from by questioning

—used in such phrases as pick the brains of

: provoke

pick a quarrel

: to dig into : probe

picking his teeth

: to pluck (a stringed instrument, such as a guitar) with a pick or with the fingers

: to loosen or pull apart with a sharp point

pick wool

: to unlock with a device (such as a wire) other than the key

pick a lock

intransitive verb

: to use or work with a pick

: to gather or harvest something by plucking

: pilfer

—used in the phrase picking and stealing

: to eat sparingly or mincingly

picking listlessly at his dinner

pick

2 of 5

noun (1)

: a blow or stroke with a pointed instrument

: the act or privilege of choosing or selecting : choice

take your pick

: the best or choicest one

the pick of the herd

: one that is picked

his pick for vice president

: the portion of a crop gathered at one time

the first pick of peaches

: a screen in basketball

football : an intercepted forward pass : interception

… McNabb had his worst game of the year. He threw two picks, fumbled twice, got sacked seven times.—

Paul Zimmerman

pick

3 of 5

noun (2)

: a heavy, usually long-handled iron or steel tool pointed at one or both ends compare mattock

: toothpick

: picklock

: a small thin piece (as of plastic or metal) used to pluck the strings of a stringed instrument

: one of the points on the forepart of the blade of a skate used in figure skating

: a comb with long widely spaced teeth used to give height to a hairstyle

pick

4 of 5

verb (2)

picked; picking; picks

transitive verb

chiefly dialectal : to throw or thrust with effort : hurl

: to throw (a shuttle) across the loom

pick

5 of 5

noun (3)

dialectal, England

: the act of pitching or throwing

: something thrown

: a throw of the shuttle

: a filling thread

Phrases

pick and choose

: to select with care and deliberation

pick at

: to criticize repeatedly especially for minor faults : nag

pick on

: to single out for criticism, teasing, or bullying

picked on smaller boys

also : to single out for a particular purpose or for special attention

Examples of pick in a Sentence

Verb (1) pick peas and beans from the garden for dinner I pick you as my partner he seems to be trying to pick a fight still suffering from the shock of his wife's death, he could do no more than pick halfheartedly at his food continued to pick the block of ice until she was able to extract the shrimp Noun (1) that team is my pick to win the Super Bowl the pick of the contestants will go on to the next competition you have first pick of your office mates for the softball team in the days when corporal punishment was permissible, it was not uncommon for an inattentive student to get a sharp pick in the head with a blackboard pointer

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

Noun

The biggest offseason expense will be quarterback Brock Purdy, who still has one year and $1.1 million left on his original rookie deal as the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. —

Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024 Trump’s Cabinet picks will require Senate confirmation. —

Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024

Verb

The Sharks’ prospect pool was also largely devoid of high-end talent, with the organization trading away multiple first-round draft picks throughout the 2010s for short-term solutions to keep the championship window open. —

Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024 Rachel picks Caroline, and Genevieve goes with Sue, while Lavos Teeny and Sol stick together, and macho men Kyle and Gabe team up. —

Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pick

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English piken, partly from Old English *pīcian (akin to Middle Dutch picken to prick); partly from Middle French piquer to prick — more at pike

Noun (2)

Middle English pik

Verb (2)

Middle English pykken to pitch (a tent); akin to Middle English picchen to pitch

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

circa 1522, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of pick was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing pick

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pick. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

pick

1 of 3 verb

ˈpik

: to strike, pierce, or break up with a pointed tool

: to remove matter from bit by bit by or as if by plucking

picked the bone clean

: to gather by plucking

pick berries

: to pluck with a pick or with the fingers

pick a guitar

: select entry 1, choose

pick out a dress

: to make (one's way) slowly and carefully

picked their way through the rubble

: to steal or pilfer from

pick pockets

: to start (a fight) with someone else deliberately

: to dig at or into : probe

picking his teeth

: to eat sparingly or in a finicky manner

picked at her dinner

: to unlock without a key

pick a lock

picker noun

pick

2 of 3 noun

: a blow or stroke with a pointed instrument

: the act or opportunity of choosing : choice

take your pick

: the best or choicest one or portion

took only the pick of the crop

: one that is picked

his pick for vice president

pick

3 of 3 noun

: a heavy tool with a wooden handle and a blade pointed at one or both ends used especially to loosen or break up soil or rock

: a slender pointed instrument

ice pick

: a small thin piece of metal or plastic used to pluck a stringed instrument

: a comb with long widely spaced teeth used in grooming hair

Etymology

Verb

Middle English piken "to pierce, pick," from Old English pīcian (same meaning) and from early French piquer "to prick" — related to pike entry 3

Noun

Middle English pik "a pick for digging"

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

negotiate

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

pick

verb (1)

noun (1)

noun (2)

Illustration of pick

verb (2)

noun (3)

Synonyms

Examples of pick in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near pick

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition