picnic

1 of 2

noun

pic·​nic ˈpik-(ˌ)nik How to pronounce picnic (audio)
Synonyms of picnicnext
often attributive
1
: an excursion or outing with food usually provided by members of the group and eaten in the open
also : the food provided for a picnic
2
a
: a pleasant or amusingly carefree experience
I don't expect being married to be a picnic—Josephine Pinckney
b
: an easy task or feat
3
: a shoulder of pork with much of the butt removed
picnicky
ˈpik-(ˌ)ni-kē How to pronounce picnic (audio)
adjective

picnic

2 of 2

verb

picnicked; picnicking

intransitive verb

: to go on a picnic : eat in picnic fashion
picnicker noun

Synonyms of picnic

Relevance

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of picnic in a Sentence

Noun We decided to have a picnic on the beach. We ate our picnic by the lake. The annual school picnic is this weekend. This winter is a picnic compared with last year's. Verb We picnicked in the park.
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
Cool down on a hot summer day with an ice cream cake the kids will love, or throw together an easy no-bake cake or pie for a last-minute party or picnic with our best summer cake and pie recipes. — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 5 July 2026 Done in just 25 minutes — crisping the bacon is the only cooking required — this salad is simply perfect for picnics and potlucks. — Karla Walsh, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Verb
The fort's expansive lawn is tailor-made for picnicking and flying kites. — Dave Parfitt, USA Today, 9 May 2026 Pair it with denim shorts if you’re headed to the beach, running errands, or picnicking outside. — Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for picnic

Word History

Etymology

Noun

German or French; German Picknick, from French pique-nique

First Known Use

Noun

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1815, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of picnic was in 1815

Phrases Containing picnic

Rhymes for picnic

See All Rhymes for picnic

Browse Nearby Words

picloram
picnic
picnicky
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Picnic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/picnic. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

picnic

1 of 2 noun
pic·​nic ˈpik-(ˌ)nik How to pronounce picnic (audio)
1
: a meal eaten outdoors often during a trip away from home
2
a
: a pleasant or carefree experience
breaking a leg is no picnic
b
: an easy task
3
: a shoulder of pork that is often smoked and boned
picnicky adjective

picnic

2 of 2 verb
picnicked; picnicking
: to go on a picnic : eat as if on a picnic
picnicker noun

More from Merriam-Webster on picnic

Nglish: Translation of picnic for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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