pick
To choose one thing or person from several.
To choose or select someone or something from a group of options.
To take something away by using your fingers or a small tool.
To remove something from a surface or object using the fingers or an instrument.
To touch or pull something many times with your fingers.
To repeatedly touch, pull, or scratch at something using one's fingers, often causing damage or irritation.
Something or someone that is chosen from many options.
A person or thing that has been chosen from a group of possibilities.
A small tool used to remove things or play a guitar.
A small tool used for plucking, removing, or striking something, such as a guitar pick or an ice pick.
- Base: pick
- Plural: pick, picks
- Base: pick
- 3rd Person Singular: picks
- Present Participle: picking
- Past: picked
pick on
1Bully or criticize repeatedly
To be unkind to someone again and again without reason.
- The older kids always picked on him at school.
- Stop picking on your little brother!
pick out
1Identify and choose from group
To choose one thing from many by looking carefully.
- She picked out a blue dress from the rack.
- Can you pick out your name on this list?
pick over
1Examine to find best items
To look carefully at many things to choose the best ones.
- Shoppers picked over the sale items for bargains.
- They picked over the fruit before buying.
pick up
1Lift from a surface by hand
To take something into your hand from a table, floor, etc.
- Can you pick up that pen for me?
- She picked up the baby and smiled.
pick up
4collect from a place
To go somewhere and get someone or something.
- Can you pick me up from the station?
- I need to pick up my prescription after work.
- She picked the kids up from school.
- I will pick you up at eight.
- He picked up the package yesterday.
pick up on
1Notice and understand subtlety
To see and understand something that is not easy to see right away.
- He quickly picked up on her nervousness.
- Did you pick up on what she meant?