1
as in masters
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 assembles
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 buys
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 grows (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 lifts
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 arrests
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 cleans 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 resumes
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 trims
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 picks up
Apart from the World Cup, tourism in New York City picks up in summer months.
—
Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Larsson becomes eligible to sign an extension with the Heat starting July 6 after the team picks up the option in his contract ahead of the late-June deadline.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
Season 2 picks up with Isla Gordon no longer the surprise choice to lead the Los Angeles Waves, but very much the one with a target on her back.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
The series picks up 15 years after the finale of The Handmaid's Tale, and follows Agnes and Daisy (Lucy Halliday), a rebellious newcomer.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Burgess didn't know that the deductible must be met before insurance picks up part of the tab.
—Jackie Fortiér, NPR, 9 Apr. 2026
Ao Tanaka, playing in what would be the Aaronson role on Saturday, picks up the knockdown and feeds Gudmundsson, in acres of space, wide left.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Russell Westbrook picks up the 100th triple-double of his career and the Oklahoma City Thunder uses a 16-0 run late in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Atlanta Hawks for a 119-107 victory.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Clouds increase as the wind picks up through the day Sunday.
—Cutter Martin, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Larsson becomes eligible to sign an extension with the Heat starting July 6 after the team picks up the option in his contract ahead of the late-June deadline.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
Season 2 picks up with Isla Gordon no longer the surprise choice to lead the Los Angeles Waves, but very much the one with a target on her back.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
The series picks up 15 years after the finale of The Handmaid's Tale, and follows Agnes and Daisy (Lucy Halliday), a rebellious newcomer.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Burgess didn't know that the deductible must be met before insurance picks up part of the tab.
—Jackie Fortiér, NPR, 9 Apr. 2026
Ao Tanaka, playing in what would be the Aaronson role on Saturday, picks up the knockdown and feeds Gudmundsson, in acres of space, wide left.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Russell Westbrook picks up the 100th triple-double of his career and the Oklahoma City Thunder uses a 16-0 run late in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Atlanta Hawks for a 119-107 victory.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Clouds increase as the wind picks up through the day Sunday.
—Cutter Martin, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picks up
Verb
-
Finally, Kim masters the steps and takes to the stage with confidence, as her family cheers her on!—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
-
Levy masters one hilarious perplexed comedic reaction after another as Nicky, a closeted pastor with a zany, highly dysfunctional family.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
All these years later, Kaye assembles his footage, receipts, and memories of the period for what promises to be an intensely personal and provocative documentary.—
Jason Bailey,
Vulture,
27 May 2026
-
Apple, for example, designs its phones in California, but assembles them in areas like China and India with components from international suppliers.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Iraq buys electricity from the autonomous Kurdish region.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
And, when its time to sell, APMEX also buys gold, silver and platinum from consumers.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Of course, the commercial ends in climactic fashion, as He-Man lifts Skeletor above his head for the grand finale and the sorcerer erupts into his legendary cackle.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
3 June 2026
-
There is a long way to go before the plane lifts off for Australia and the season opener.—
Vic Tafur,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Keith arrests our thinking, and cons us into suppressing our critical faculties with the same kind of internalized surveillance that philosopher Michel Foucault broke down to describe a prison’s use of the panopticon in Discipline and Punish.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Devlin throws a punch at Stone when the chief arrests him for drunken driving.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Third round action resumes in Fort Worth, TX, tune in to see how the event plays out.—
Data Skrive,
New York Times,
30 May 2026
-
Paxton resumes his job as state Attorney General.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
For 2026, the hybrid is offered in LXS, EX, SX, and SX Prestige trims.—
Michael Harley,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
The 2026 model, with only minor changes from 2025, is available in Premiere, Reserve and Black Label trims.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
And, soon, the OCFA crew learns that one of three storage tanks at the plant — one that contains the chemical methyl methacrylate, or MMA — is bulging.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
2 June 2026
-
Elio and his friend work on a service project in a rural community, while Celi learns traditional medicine.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Picks up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picks%20up. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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