pickup line
noun
US
: a prepared remark used by a person to start a conversation with a stranger they are interested in having a romantic relationship with
He tried using one of his clever pickup lines on her, but it didn't work.
Examples of pickup line in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
An elementary school in the Chicago suburbs went on a brief lockdown on April 7 after multiple 911 calls were made about a man carrying a gun in a car pickup line, which turned out to be a senior assassin player trying to eliminate a target.
—
Kate Perez, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
According to police reports, shortly before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, the West Dundee Police Department received several 911 calls reporting someone carrying what appeared to be a rifle and wearing all-black clothing who had approached a vehicle in the after-school pickup line at the school.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
With poor road conditions, driving to the school pickup line or waiting for the bus may be harder than anticipated as some schools begin making decisions for Wednesday, Jan. 28.
—Cheyenne Derksen, Oklahoman, 27 Jan. 2026
Since then the school has made several changes, according to the suit, including a fence separating the pickup line from a nearby lawn, a foot pathway for pedestrians, and a stop sign in front of the pathway, among other changes.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Popular Instagram accounts post people’s dating profiles, text conversations, and awkward pickup lines.
—Eli Thompson, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2025
That process of recreating the set took only about an hour, which gave Cameron the freedom for easy reshoots and pickup lines.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2025
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Kate Perez, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
According to police reports, shortly before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, the West Dundee Police Department received several 911 calls reporting someone carrying what appeared to be a rifle and wearing all-black clothing who had approached a vehicle in the after-school pickup line at the school.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
With poor road conditions, driving to the school pickup line or waiting for the bus may be harder than anticipated as some schools begin making decisions for Wednesday, Jan. 28.
—Cheyenne Derksen, Oklahoman, 27 Jan. 2026
Since then the school has made several changes, according to the suit, including a fence separating the pickup line from a nearby lawn, a foot pathway for pedestrians, and a stop sign in front of the pathway, among other changes.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Popular Instagram accounts post people’s dating profiles, text conversations, and awkward pickup lines.
—Eli Thompson, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2025
That process of recreating the set took only about an hour, which gave Cameron the freedom for easy reshoots and pickup lines.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pickup line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pickup%20line. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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