pick up 1 of 2

Definition of pick upnext
1
2
3
4
5
6
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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

9

pickup

2 of 2

noun

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 pick up
Verb
The idea has spawned a flurry of products which are helping their customers resist the temptation of automatically picking up their phone and scrolling social media during any and every lull in the day. Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026 Quero Silva, 55, who came to South Florida with his family on a visa in 2016 and settled in Miramar, has been held at the Krome detention center in West Miami-Dade since he was picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents a year ago. Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026 My focus is on Season 4 and getting that picked up. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026 But data show Charlotte’s numbers are picking up. Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pick up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pick up
Verb
  • Despite the long history of elite WTA players mastering the art of the moonball, Caroline Wozniacki and Angelique Kerber chief among them, sending tennis balls into the atmosphere still draws out the sport’s eternal, often cursed relationship between style and ethics.
    James Hansen, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The percentage of third-graders mastering grade level performance in reading increased from 18% in 2024 to 21% in 2025, according to officials.
    Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.
    Staff Reports, The Providence Journal, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Individuals, nonprofits and local businesses collect bags of food, baby formula, diapers and other items and deliver them to people too scared to leave their homes.
    Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The child may use the money without penalty to help pay for college or buy a first home.
    Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Nightmare fuel that won’t make anyone rush out to buy a grooming kit.
    Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Local polls had consistently projected that no single party would gain a majority, necessitating the formation of a coalition government.
    GRANT PECK, Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The analyst also expects MongoDB to gain from higher consumption, driven by rising enterprise workloads.
    TipRanks, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • By Wednesday morning, the restrictions were suddenly lifted, leaving the city’s airport in confusion for several hours.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Erewhon is pushing its wellness footprint further into aesthetics — starting with lip flips and brow lifts — as the lines between self care and cosmetic treatments continue to blur.
    Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Months later, police obtained the criminal warrants to arrest the suspect at his residence.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Lovely was arrested in connection with the stabbing and is also being treated at Atrium Hospital.
    Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Train traffic was halted overnight at the request of police and resumed Thursday morning, the railway said.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Melinda's family contacted the Madison County Sheriff’s Office in 2004 to resume the search.
    Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Hachimura helped the Lakers stay the course after their lead was trimmed to two points with 27 seconds left.
    Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Officials say the goats will practically climb over each other to reach them, turning bush-trimming into a competitive sport.
    Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pick up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pick%20up. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on pick up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!