pick
gb/pˈɪk/ us/pˈɪk/
A2
English
~ 800
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
Choose or select something
To choose one thing or person from several.
Usage pattern:
to pick [something/someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'pick' meaning 'choose' with 'pick' meaning 'remove' (e.g., 'pick flowers'). Context decides the meaning.
Synonyms
choose (Most common and neutral alternative; interchangeable in many contexts.)
|
select (Slightly more formal than 'pick'.)
Antonyms
reject (Means to refuse or not choose something.)
Collocations
pick a winner
|pick a team
|pick a color
|pick your favorite
Themes
daily life
|decision making
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She picked the red dress instead of the blue one.
- You can pick any book you like from the shelf.
- They picked John to lead the project.
- I picked three songs for the playlist.
- We need to pick a date for the meeting.
Learner examples
- I will pick this shirt.
- Please pick one card.
- He picks the big apple.
- We pick our seats early.
- You can pick your lunch.
Verb
A2
action
2
Remove using fingers or tool
To take something away by using your fingers or a small tool.
Usage pattern:
to pick [something] from [something]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'pick' with 'collect'. 'Pick' often means to remove individually, usually by hand.
Synonyms
pluck (Often used for removing plants, feathers, or strings.)
Antonyms
place (To put something somewhere rather than remove it.)
Collocations
pick flowers
|pick fruit
|pick a lock
Themes
daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She picked an apple from the tree.
- He picked the lock with a hairpin.
- The child picked a toy from the box.
- Workers picked grapes in the vineyard.
Learner examples
- I pick the flower from the garden.
- She picks an apple from the tree.
- They pick the ball from the water.
Verb
B1
action
3
Fiddle with fingers repeatedly
To touch or pull something many times with your fingers.
Usage pattern:
to pick at [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'pick at' with 'eat' in general; it actually means to eat very little or touch food without interest.
Synonyms
fiddle with (Less about removal, more about restless touching.)
Antonyms
leave alone (To stop touching or disturbing something.)
Collocations
pick at food
|pick at skin
Themes
daily life
|body
|daily_life
Examples
- Don't pick at that scab or it won't heal.
- He kept picking at his nails during the meeting.
- She absent-mindedly picked at the edge of the paper.
Learner examples
- Do not pick at your skin.
- She picks at her food slowly.
- He picks at his nails.
Noun
A2
entity
4
A choice or selection
Something or someone that is chosen from many options.
Synonyms
choice (Most common equivalent; interchangeable.)
|
selection (Slightly more formal than 'pick'.)
Antonyms
reject (Something that was not chosen.)
Collocations
first pick
|good pick
|top pick
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The committee's pick for president was announced today.
- She's our top pick for the role.
- That was a good pick for dinner.
Learner examples
- This is my first pick.
- He is our top pick.
- That is a good pick.
Noun
B1
entity
5
Small plucking or striking tool
A small tool used to remove things or play a guitar.
Synonyms
plectrum (Technical term mainly used in music for guitar picks.)
Collocations
guitar pick
|ice pick
Themes
music
|tools
|daily_life
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- He strummed the guitar with a pick.
- The climber carried an ice pick for safety.
- She used a toothpick to clean her teeth.
Learner examples
- I play guitar with a pick.
- He uses an ice pick in climbing.
- She cleans her teeth with a toothpick.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pick
IPA
GB/pˈɪk/
US/pˈɪk/
Syllables & stress
pick (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (pick)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: pick
- Plural: pick, picks
Verb
- Base: pick
- 3rd Person Singular: picks
- Present Participle: picking
- Past: picked
Word family
Forms
picks
noun
picking
verb
picked
verb
Core family
picky
adjective B1
picker
noun
Related words
handpick
verb
pickiness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unpick
verb
Advanced or less common
cherry-pick
verb
Expressions
pick on
1/pˈɪk ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
Bully or criticize repeatedly
To be unkind to someone again and again without reason.
Examples
- The older kids always picked on him at school.
- Stop picking on your little brother!
pick out
1/pˈɪk ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
Identify and choose from group
To choose one thing from many by looking carefully.
Examples
- She picked out a blue dress from the rack.
- Can you pick out your name on this list?
pick over
1/pˈɪk ˈoʊvɚ/
phrasal verb
Examine to find best items
To look carefully at many things to choose the best ones.
Examples
- Shoppers picked over the sale items for bargains.
- They picked over the fruit before buying.
pick up
1/pˈɪk ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
Lift from a surface by hand
To take something into your hand from a table, floor, etc.
Examples
- Can you pick up that pen for me?
- She picked up the baby and smiled.
pick up
4/pˈɪk ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
collect from a place
To go somewhere and get someone or something.
Examples
- Can you pick me up from the station?
- I need to pick up my prescription after work.
- She picked the kids up from school.
pick up on
1/pˈɪk ˈʌp ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
Notice and understand subtlety
To see and understand something that is not easy to see right away.
Examples
- He quickly picked up on her nervousness.
- Did you pick up on what she meant?