1
as in mastering
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 assembling
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 buying
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 growing (in)
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 lifting
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 arresting
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 cleaning 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 resuming
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 trimming
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
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Recent Examples of picking up
Scenes of Japanese soccer fans sweeping stadiums and picking up trash after a match first drew public attention in France in 1998 — Japan’s first appearance in the World Cup.
—
Stephen Wade, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
This is the latest example of Netflix picking up a series based on a digital format.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
Job cuts are picking up across the tech sector as companies reckon with the AI boom.
—Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Charges say surveillance video from the day care shows the woman picking up a child and falling backward into the wall, also slamming the child's head into the wall.
—Riley Moser, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Swapped is Jordan’s first movie since picking up the Best Actor nomination for Sinners.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
The White House has scheduled a party for Friday and you, taxpayer, will be picking up the check – in more ways than one.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 26 Mar. 2026
Guardsmen are also carrying out civic duties like picking up trash, tending to landscaping and scrubbing graffiti.
—Steven Beynon, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
The video shows Paul hitting Mortensen, grabbing him around the neck and kicking him before picking up metal barstools and throwing them in his direction.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026
Stephen Wade, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
This is the latest example of Netflix picking up a series based on a digital format.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
Job cuts are picking up across the tech sector as companies reckon with the AI boom.
—Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Charges say surveillance video from the day care shows the woman picking up a child and falling backward into the wall, also slamming the child's head into the wall.
—Riley Moser, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Swapped is Jordan’s first movie since picking up the Best Actor nomination for Sinners.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
The White House has scheduled a party for Friday and you, taxpayer, will be picking up the check – in more ways than one.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 26 Mar. 2026
Guardsmen are also carrying out civic duties like picking up trash, tending to landscaping and scrubbing graffiti.
—Steven Beynon, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
The video shows Paul hitting Mortensen, grabbing him around the neck and kicking him before picking up metal barstools and throwing them in his direction.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picking up
Verb
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Across industries — creative, legal, financial, technical — the systems people like myself spent careers mastering are being rewritten.—
Matti Yahav,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
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Regardless of their final career path, every intern's first assignment is learning to be a docent, mastering the art of guiding visitors on a tour.—
La'Tasha Givens,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Double-A manager Chad Epperson will take over as interim third base coach and WooSox hitting coach Collin Hetzler has been elevated to the big league staff, but beyond that Breslow said more additions will be made and that Tracy will have a voice in assembling his new staff.—
Mac Cerullo,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
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Closing these gaps often requires assembling small and fragmented parcels over time.—
Susan Carr,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Many online comments said higher prices would not deter them from buying condoms to protect against pregnancy.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Institutional investors have been criticized for driving up home prices, but there is little evidence that their presence is impacting the rising costs of buying a home.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Removing these bargain fares is also lifting the average ticket price.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Robbie Ray combined with four relievers on a six-hitter, lifting the Giants to their first home win against the Marlins since August of 2024.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The affidavit further alleges that Bell gave arresting officers the name of her older sister.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The Houston Police Department’s policy has barred officers from arresting or detaining someone based on immigration status since 1990.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Tillis said Sunday that the Justice Department assured him any appeal would be focused on the judge's basis for quashing the subpoenas rather than a vehicle for resuming the investigation.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
President Zelensky signaled openness to resuming peace talks in Azerbaijan.—
Elise Morton,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Oracle Park roared to life in the bottom of the fifth as San Francisco’s offense finally got to Alcantara, trimming the deficit to 8-3 as Drew Gilbert, Eric Haase and Luis Arraez all drove in a run apiece.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Across TikTok, Instagram and group chats, young people are constantly editing themselves, trimming anything that might come off as try-hard, awkward or embarrassing.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The building will have a gym, a gross motor room with play equipment for the youngest students, a two-story library with reading nooks, a learning hub able to accommodate two classes at a time, and an outdoor area with patio furniture.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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Dex’s focus on AI software developers and machine learning engineers has helped the company win over a clutch of high-profile recruiting leaders.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Picking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking%20up. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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