pickoff

1 of 2

noun

pick·​off ˈpik-ˌȯf How to pronounce pickoff (audio)
: a baseball play in which a base runner is picked off

pick off

2 of 2

verb

picked off; picking off; picks off

transitive verb

1
: to shoot or bring down especially one by one
2
: to put out (a base runner who is off base) with a quick throw (as from the pitcher or catcher)
3
: intercept
picked off a pass

Examples of pickoff in a Sentence

Noun He made a pickoff throw to third base. Verb picked off more passes than any other player in the division
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
Two batters later, reliever Luke Weaver threw a pickoff attempt into center field. Chris Kirschner, The Athletic, 6 July 2024 Just things started speeding up and didn’t even see the clock there or even the pickoff at second base. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 5 July 2024
Verb
Tristin McCollum nearly picked off Lamar Jackson on a pass breakup that resulted in a turnover on downs. Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic, 2 Dec. 2024 On second down, Whittington picked off Newborn near the end zone and returned it to the Millers’ 23. Glenn Graham, Baltimore Sun, 30 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pickoff 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1911, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pickoff was in 1810

Dictionary Entries Near pickoff

Cite this Entry

“Pickoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pickoff. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

pick off

verb
1
: to shoot or bring down one by one or with a single shot
2
: to put out (a base runner who is off base) with a quick throw
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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