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
as in increase
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
Mark Bonamo, New York Times, 1 June 2025
The incident occurred as the Trump administration has taken extraordinary measures to crack down on immigration, aggressively pressuring Immigration and Customs Enforcement to pick up the pace of migrant arrests and touting mass deportation plans.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 1 June 2025
There were some calls came to the phone, but none were picked up.
—Ruth Chenetz, CBS News, 31 May 2025
Five-time major winner Rory McIlroy picked up his Bear’s Club home from fellow major champion Ernie Els in 2017.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Verb
Some were making plans to move to Canada, rather than face being picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said Jeffrey Thielman, the president of the International Institute of New England, which works with refugees and immigrants in the Boston area and beyond.
—Mark Bonamo, New York Times, 1 June 2025
The incident occurred as the Trump administration has taken extraordinary measures to crack down on immigration, aggressively pressuring Immigration and Customs Enforcement to pick up the pace of migrant arrests and touting mass deportation plans.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 1 June 2025
There were some calls came to the phone, but none were picked up.
—Ruth Chenetz, CBS News, 31 May 2025
Five-time major winner Rory McIlroy picked up his Bear’s Club home from fellow major champion Ernie Els in 2017.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pick up
Verb
-
There’s a belief that merely mastering a posture that keeps the battle alive, even if the defender successfully wipes the hand away while simultaneously bringing more power to the punches that do connect, can shift those win-rate averages from league worst to something more manageable.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
-
Maron will portray Chuck Plotkin, the producer who painstakingly mastered Springsteen’s pivotal 1982 album Nebraska.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
2 June 2025
Verb
-
The number of people collecting unemployment checks climbed in mid-May to a fresh four-year high, the Labor Department said Thursday.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
2 June 2025
-
Turn Small Talk Into Shared Problem-Solving Shift from collecting contacts to connecting dots.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
Verb
-
Canada has been in discussions with the European Union to join an EU drive to break its security dependency on the United States, with a focus on buying more defense equipment, including fighter jets, in Europe.—
Rob Gillies,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
-
Seeing the same godliness attitude in his child, Han decided to reignite the project and bought the book for his long-time colleague and co-director Maïlys Vallade, who also fell in love with the character.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
The wider crypto sector has also been gaining political traction in the U.S. Legislators are promoting laws that seek regulatory clarity, and the Trump Administration has also shown support for cryptocurrencies.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
The cosmetics company unveiled its version of a longwear lip product in 2020, gained viral popularity in 2022, and saw a major resurgence in 2024 thanks to TikTok—momentum that’s continued into 2025.—
Robyn Merrett,
StyleCaster,
9 June 2025
Verb
-
But after President Joseph R. Biden Jr. lifted the bans in January 2021, travel from those countries — and from Chad, Libya and Yemen — more than rebounded.—
Allison McCann,
New York Times,
5 June 2025
-
But the restrictions haven’t been lifted, causing intense displeasure inside the Trump administration and prompting a recent series of measures imposed on China, three administration officials told CNN last week.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
Georgia is then arrested and driven away in a cop car, setting the stage for an intense court battle and a potential prison sentence in Season 3.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
-
Carroll was arrested and charged with Woodward's murder and domestic abuse of Monica.—
Doc Louallen,
ABC News,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
Make sure that lightning is well away from your location before resuming outdoor activity.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 June 2025
-
The impact on aid The U.N. Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Thursday that since Israel resumed military operations in March, 640,000 Palestinians have been displaced.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
7 June 2025
Verb
-
The Owls trimmed the lead to 25-20 and got the ball back at their 30 with 32 seconds remaining in the game.—
Bruce Feldman,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
-
While restructuring in the name of efficiency is one way to trim headcount, a negative work environment can also have a direct impact on talent retention.—
The Hill,
The Hill,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pick up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pick%20up. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share