Synonyms of pick up

pick up 1 of 2

verb

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

• master
• learn
• get
• understand
• get the hang of
• know
• find out
• search (for)
• drink (in)
• see
• discover
• track (down)
• run down
• hear
• grasp
• comprehend
• dig up
• hit (on or upon)
• ascertain
• examine
• detect
• absorb
• apprehend
• study
• digest
• determine
• tumble (to)
• assimilate
• memorize
• discern
• scare up
• imbibe
• major (in)
• descry
• unearth

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• forget
• unlearn
• miss
• ignore
• overlook
• disregard
• misunderstand
• neglect

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• collect
• assemble
• gather
• accumulate
• round up
• get together
• garner
• amass
• group
• bulk (up)
• corral
• pack
• join
• concentrate
• combine
• lump
• congregate
• batch
• bunch
• organize
• ball
• pile
• stack
• raise
• constellate
• unite
• arrange
• connect
• compile
• rally
• cluster
• merge
• flock
• muster
• link
• huddle
• herd
• band
• heap
• pool
• swarm
• systematize
• press
• collate
• archive
• hive
• scrape (up or together)
• throng
• brigade
• regroup
• re-collect
• regather

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• split (up)
• dispel
• dissipate
• disperse
• scatter
• break up
• separate
• send
• dissolve
• disintegrate
• dismiss
• sever
• disband

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?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• buy
• purchase
• take
• get
• pay (for)
• deal (for)
• cop
• obtain
• win
• exchange (for)
• negotiate (about)
• trade (for)
• acquire
• procure
• bargain (with)
• secure
• gain
• garner
• haggle (for)
• spring (for)
• finance
• offer
• barter (for)
• bid
• palter (with)
• repurchase
• chaffer (with)
• dicker (over)
• horse-trade (with)
• rebuy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deal (in)
• sell
• merchandise
• market
• retail
• merchandize
• vend

4

as in to gain

to gradually increase in

the boat was just picking up speed when it was rammed by another boat

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gain
• grow (in)
• build up
• gather
• double (in)
• accumulate
• accrue
• expand
• triple (in)
• stimulate
• maximize
• enhance
• excite
• step up
• mount
• enrich
• extend
• amass
• ramp (up)
• enlarge
• elevate
• jack (up)
• boost

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decrease (in)
• lose
• fall (in)
• decline (in)
• diminish (in)
• lessen
• dip
• taper off
• abate
• taper
• dwindle

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lift
• raise
• take up
• elevate
• hoist
• uplift
• uphold
• heighten
• hike
• jack (up)
• boost
• perk (up)
• heave
• crane
• up
• heft
• rise
• mount
• upraise
• ascend
• rear
• upend

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• drop
• fall
• lower
• slip
• push
• descend
• bear
• plunge
• dip
• press
• pitch
• depress
• sink
• submerge

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• arrest
• seize
• run in
• grab
• pull in
• apprehend
• restrain
• detain
• capture
• commit
• pinch
• nick
• nail
• nab
• catch
• snatch
• jail
• bust
• snap (up)
• collar
• trap
• lock (up)
• hook
• confine
• land
• incarcerate
• imprison
• snare
• get
• bind
• grapple
• bag
• hold
• intern
• remand
• jug
• shackle
• handcuff
• immure
• fetter
• enchain
• trammel
• manacle
• rearrest

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discharge
• release
• liberate
• spring
• free
• loosen
• emancipate
• loose
• unbind
• unchain

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?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• clean house
• set straight
• clean (up)
• tidy (up)
• clean (off)
• order
• arrange
• straighten (up)
• turn out
• police (up)
• housekeep
• houseclean
• neaten
• unclutter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clutter
• mess (up)
• disarrange

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• resume
• continue
• restart
• reopen
• proceed (with)
• renew
• revive
• resuscitate
• recrudesce

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• finish
• end
• complete
• conclude
• consummate
• shut off
• check
• stay
• cut
• finalize
• stop
• terminate
• drop
• can
• break
• cease
• quit
• halt
• discontinue
• leave off
• desist
• scuttle
• knock off
• belay

9

as in to trim

to make neat

the boy's bedroom looked like it hadn't been picked up in quite a while

Synonyms & Similar Words

• trim
• organize
• arrange
• straighten (up or out)
• spruce (up)
• redd (up or out)
• draw up
• tidy (up)
• classify
• dispose
• marshall
• array
• order
• neaten
• systematize
• codify
• range
• marshal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• mix (up)
• upset
• disrupt
• disturb
• shuffle
• disarray
• scramble
• mess (up)
• tumble
• muddle
• disorganize
• disarrange
• muss
• jumble
• disorder
• discompose
• tousle
• rumple
• dishevel

pickup

2 of 2

noun

as in increase

Synonyms & Similar Words

• increase
• upturn
• upswing
• boost
• spurt
• outbreak
• burst
• explosion
• flare
• surge
• flurry
• outburst
• epidemic
• renewal
• eruption
• flash
• flood
• flutter
• flicker
• rush
• recurrence
• paroxysm
• recrudescence
• volley
• flare-up
• deluge
• spate
• commotion
• furor
• uproar

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slump
• calm
• doldrums

Examples of pick up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

President Joe Biden picked up the states in 2020, but Trump won both in the 2016 election. Keep up with the USA TODAY Network's live coverage. —Marina Pitofsky, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2024

This year, indie efforts have helped to pick up the slack. —Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024

Noun

In an election where only a handful of races could flip control of the state House, Downriver contests could provide Democrats pickup opportunities or help Republicans win back control. —Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press, 13 Oct. 2024

Rounding out the list on Sundays are free Wednesday’s Whopper Sandwiches with the purchase of a $20 Burger King delivery or pickup order. —Antonia Debianchi, People.com, 11 Oct. 2024