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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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
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as in increase
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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
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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
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Maron will portray Chuck Plotkin, the producer who painstakingly mastered Springsteen’s pivotal 1982 album Nebraska.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
2 June 2025
Verb
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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
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Turn Small Talk Into Shared Problem-Solving Shift from collecting contacts to connecting dots.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
Verb
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The thinking was simple: If many more power-hungry data centers needed to be built, stocks of industrial companies that sell products used within those facilities – such as Eaton and Vertiv – should be bought.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
28 May 2025
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Then in 2020, Anheuser-Busch bought a 40% stake in energy drink Ghost, which used the beer conglomerate’s distribution network.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
28 May 2025
Verb
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The show lost Samantha (under less than amicable circumstances), as well as actress Kim Cattrall, and gained a number of supporting characters of color.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
30 May 2025
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After her parents went away to serve their time, Savannah gained custody of both Grayson and Chloe.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
30 May 2025
Verb
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However on Tuesday, Trump lifted a federal ban on the construction of a $5 billion wind farm off the coast of New York.—
Kate Plummer
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
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Then Ottawa’s Rebecca Leslie lifted a puck from Frost defender Maggie Flaherty behind the net, and Jocelyne Larocque slipped a low shot past Rooney to give the Charge the late lead.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Officers went to the townhouse and arrested Woeltz, who is charged with assault, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment and criminal possession of a gun.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
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Officers are seen getting out, moving Taylor to the ground and arresting him.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
25 May 2025
Verb
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The plane then resumed its journey and traveled the remaining four hours to Los Angeles without incident.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
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Yields resumed their move higher Wednesday as demand for 40-year government bonds reportedly dropped to its weakest level since July last year, according to Reuters’ calculations, hovering near record highs hit last week.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
28 May 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Pick up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pick%20up. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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