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
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.
Recent Examples of picking up
When this happens for a car attacking on a corner’s outside, the driver on the inside can run their rival fully out wide without picking up a penalty.
—
Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
None are 100% at picking up cognitive issues.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Firefighters are staffing the fire through the night as winds are picking up again this evening, similar to last night.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Residents and students on their way home and parents picking up children from day care were caught in a tense lockdown that stretched into the night.
—Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025
Blackshear fell to the ground before picking up 2 yards, and the ball was placed on the Carolina 9-yard line for the Panthers’ first offensive possession.
—Charlotte Observer, 9 Aug. 2025
Now, his son picking up the pace balling out.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Ramsay asked, referring to Holland picking up the 007 mantle.
—Lauren Huff Published, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
None are 100% at picking up cognitive issues.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Firefighters are staffing the fire through the night as winds are picking up again this evening, similar to last night.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Residents and students on their way home and parents picking up children from day care were caught in a tense lockdown that stretched into the night.
—Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025
Blackshear fell to the ground before picking up 2 yards, and the ball was placed on the Carolina 9-yard line for the Panthers’ first offensive possession.
—Charlotte Observer, 9 Aug. 2025
Now, his son picking up the pace balling out.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Ramsay asked, referring to Holland picking up the 007 mantle.
—Lauren Huff Published, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picking up
Verb
-
True freedom isn't a future milestone; it's built from day one by designing for mobility, choosing clients who respect boundaries, building self-sufficient systems, mastering asynchronous communication, and pricing for a location-independent lifestyle.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Moving forward, mastering a personal podcast could replace soft-focus biographies or wonky books as a way for politicians to increase their profiles.—
David Bauder,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Focused, Not Flashy Industry rivals are assembling sprawling portfolios.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
It was found that CFAP91 acts as a scaffold, a key component for assembling the radial spoke 3 (RS3) complex in the flagellum.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The following year, the group made its first acquisition by buying a controlling stake in FC Como Women, which competes in Italy’s top-tier women’s soccer league, Serie A Femminile.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
-
As long as there are no other outbreaks, shoppers can expect cooler prices heading into the holiday season in addition to an abatement of egg-buying restrictions at grocery stores.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Apart from lifting the ban on social media, the protesters’ other demands included that the Prime Minister resign and that Nepal establish an independent watchdog body similar to an ombudsman to monitor corruption.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Nuno will be replaced by Ange Postecoglou, who was relieved of his duties by Tottenham Hotspur in June, just weeks after ending the club’s 17-year wait for a major trophy by lifting the Europa League.—
Dan Cancian,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Joined later by singer Sarah Cracknell, Saint Etienne crafted catchy and arresting indie alternative dance-pop music that, over time, has incorporated other genres such as folktronica, acid house, ‘60s European pop and ambient.—
David Chiu,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Federal and immigration agents conducted a massive sweep on the plant in Ellabell, Georgia, arresting 475 people as part of an investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices.—
Laya Neelakandan,
CNBC,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
With the incident now fully resolved, Terminal 4 has reopened, and normal operations are resuming.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Sep. 2025
-
In a video of the attack, Johnson is seen choking Cundiff for more than a minute and a half, resuming the strangling after Cundiff appeared unconscious, causing injuries to his throat and face.—
Miguel Torres,
AZCentral.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The junior launched himself through a pile for a two-yard touchdown rush, trimming the deficit to 35-34.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
-
With revisions earlier this year mostly trimming prior readings, more downward revisions could be due.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Appreciation means valuing the struggle of learning, not despite its difficulty but because of it.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Laura is frantic about saving Daniel after learning Cherry pushed her father from a construction site, fracturing his spine in two places.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Picking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picking%20up. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share