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
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pick up
Irene Wright, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Firstman, who also wrote and stars, picked up costar Reggie Absolom (who plays the son of Firstman’s character in the film) and started a chant in his honor.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Russo called his mother and asked to be picked up during the fight, and a friend went to get him.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 15 May 2026
By year’s end, 31 detainees had died, and this year, the rate has picked up speed, with 18 dead since January.
—Rob Kuznia, CNN Money, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Verb
She has been followed by Michael Thurmond and Geoff Duncan in polls for months, with Jason Esteves picking up steam in fourth place.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Firstman, who also wrote and stars, picked up costar Reggie Absolom (who plays the son of Firstman’s character in the film) and started a chant in his honor.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Russo called his mother and asked to be picked up during the fight, and a friend went to get him.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 15 May 2026
By year’s end, 31 detainees had died, and this year, the rate has picked up speed, with 18 dead since January.
—Rob Kuznia, CNN Money, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pick up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pick up
Verb
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For those who haven't yet mastered these basics but want to get in better shape, Langowski shared some advice on how to get started.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
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If all goes according to plan, this is the version of Starship that SpaceX will use to begin experimenting with in-orbit refueling, a capability engineers must master before sending ships anywhere farther than low-Earth orbit.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Verb
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One trust would collect money from the church, parishes, schools and insurance settlements to compensate survivors, while the second trust would manage litigation and insurance claims against insurers that did not settle.—
Bridget Byrne,
Baltimore Sun,
17 May 2026
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If retirement is on your mind, check out the stories—including one from a few weeks ago about my mom’s own struggle to collect Social Security benefits after my dad died.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Rai’s father, Amrik Singh, bought his son a set of Titleist 690 MB irons when the latter was still a child, worth nearly 1,000 pounds — money that the working-class Rai family didn’t exactly have.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
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Among them is Cai Youcheng, a 36-year-old graphic designer in Beijing who has set aside plans to buy for now.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
Verb
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In Germany itself, neo-Nazis are gaining ground.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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Rookie Gabriela Jaquez scored a team-high 20 points to go with eight rebounds for the Sky, who gained a 40-38 lead just before halftime and never trailed again.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Verb
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As captain, Poulin got the 35-pound Walter Cup first, lifting it over her head as confetti exploded around her.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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But what if the embargo gets lifted tomorrow?—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
Verb
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On the topic of arresting homeless people, moderators asked how Bianco's sheriff's office has been known to do.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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Dulce Dayana Hernandez Jimenez, 28, was arrested Tuesday at JFK Airport after a flight from Mexico, police said.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Following the fire at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre on May 4 — home to The Book of Mormon on Broadway — the show has set a date to resume performances after being canceled through May 20.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
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Shipments resumed in January of 2024, but kept getting interrupted by a series of reviews by China regulators.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Cut off and discard the leaves, then remove any brown spots and trim the ends.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
14 May 2026
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The rising cost of fuel and groceries has trimmed their choices to the necessities.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pick up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pick%20up. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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