pick up
Third Person
picks up
Present Participle
picking up
Past Tense
picked up
Past Participle
picked up
1
to take and lift something or someone up
transitive
- He picked the suitcase up and walked to the taxi stand.
- She picked her cat up to keep it from scratching the furniture.
- She picked up the newspaper from the porch in the morning.
- The kids have to pick up their toys before bedtime.
- The police officer picks up the evidence with a gloved hand.
2
to let a person waiting by a road or street to get inside one's vehicle and give them a ride
transitive
- I picked two backpackers up who were heading in the same direction.
- She stops to pick up strangers stranded in the rain.
- I don't usually pick up hitchhikers, but it was pouring rain.
- The bus picks up passengers from that stop every hour.
- I picked a stranded tourist up on my way to the city center.
3
to answer a ringing phone
- Can you pick up the phone?I'm busy cooking.
- The phone rang three times before he finally picked up.
- I called her multiple times, but she didn't pick up.
- I was about to pick up when the call got disconnected.
- He heard his favorite song as a ringtone and hurried to pick up.
4
to retrieve an item from a location where it was left
transitive
- Lisa realized she left her keys at the office and had to go back to pick them up before heading home.
- I need to pick up my dry cleaning before the shop closes.
- John received a notification that his package had arrived, so he went to pick it up from the courier service.
- I need to pick up the books I reserved from the library later today.
5
to experience a positive rise in something
- After a quiet winter, hotel bookings began to pick up in spring.
- Business always picks up during the holiday season.
- As word spread about the festival, ticket sales started to pick up.
- After the announcement, the stock market picked up considerably.
- Once the reviews came out, sales for the book really started to pick up.
6
to take on a role of authority or leadership
transitive
- After the revolution, it was uncertain who would pick up power.
- When the CEO retired, her successor was ready to pick up the reins.
- She picked up the mantle of leadership after the unexpected resignation of the previous leader.
- The young prince was not ready to pick up the throne.
7
to learn about something, typically without intending to
transitive
- I picked up a few French phrases while vacationing in Paris.
- You can pick up a lot of interesting facts in museums.
- I picked some interesting facts up during the tour.
- She picked up some local slang while staying abroad.
8
to arrest someone
transitive
- The police picked the thief up after a short chase.
- They picked him up for questioning.
- The authorities picked up the suspect near the border.
- The detective picked up the person of interest.
- After the incident, several individuals were picked up by the police.
9
(of a color) to enhance or complement another color by being of a similar shade
transitive
- The navy blue scarf picked up the subtle tones in her dress, creating a harmonious ensemble.
- The soft beige curtains pick up the warm hues of the wooden furniture in the room.
- Her emerald green earrings beautifully picked up the vibrant colors in her floral blouse.
- The cream-colored throw pillows pick up the delicate tones of the patterned rug.
- The golden frames of the artwork pick up the highlights in the sunset painting.
10
to purchase something
transitive
- She picked up a few books from the sale.
- I picked up some groceries on my way home.
- I picked it up at a vintage store downtown.
- Whenever she travels, she likes to pick up souvenirs.
- He picked a new jacket up during the clearance sale.
11
to boost someone's spirits
transitive
- Seeing her child's smile picked her up instantly.
- After a week of rain, the forecast of sunshine picked up the town's spirits.
- The motivational speech picked everyone up.
- The sunny weather picked up the mood of the entire team.
- A surprise visit from his friend picked him up during his hospital stay.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
12
to recover one's strength, often after a period of fatigue
- After a nap, she picked up and felt ready to continue her work.
- After the second set, the tennis player picked up and dominated the game.
- The team picked up in the second half of the match.
Synonyms:
13
to approach someone, often with a romantic or sexual intent
transitive
- He was notorious for trying to pick women up wherever he went.
- She's not the type to pick up guys at a club.
- He tried to pick up a stranger at the bar.
- She's confident and often picks guys up when she goes out.
14
to notice something, such as a sense, sign, etc.
transitive
- With his keen hearing, he can pick up the slightest sound in the night.
- It took me a moment to pick up the sarcasm in his voice.
- My dog picked up the scent of another animal in the backyard.
Synonyms:
15
to acquire a new skill or language through practice and application rather than formal instruction
transitive
- He picked up a bit of Italian while traveling through Italy.
- You'd be surprised how quickly children pick up new technology.
- She never took a painting class but picked up the skill from watching online tutorials.
- Without ever attending a formal class, he picked up playing the guitar by practicing with friends.
- Many immigrants pick up the local dialect just by conversing with neighbors.
16
(of the wind or other natural forces) to increase in strength or intensity
- As the storm approached, the wind picked up and the waves grew higher.
- The forecast says the rain will pick up by the afternoon.
- The waves have really picked up since this morning; it might not be safe to surf.
- I could feel the temperature drop and sensed that the storm was about to pick up.
- We decided to turn back because the currents in the river had started to pick up.
17
to receive or detect a signal or transmission from a radio station or other broadcasting device
transitive
- On this device, we can pick up even the weakest signals.
- I can pick up the local radio station in this area.
- Can your radio pick that station up from such a long distance?
- If you move to the window, you might pick up a better WiFi signal.
- The satellite dish on the roof can pick up channels from all over the world.
18
to resume something, a story, activity, or relationship
transitive
- After the summer break, the teacher decided to pick up the lessons from where they had left.
- They had a disagreement last year, but now they're trying to pick up their friendship again.
- We paused our project due to lack of funds, but as soon as we secure more investment, we'll pick it up from where we left off.
- I had to stop reading last night, but I'll pick it up again this evening.
19
to catch an infectious disease or illness from someone or something
transitive
- On his trip to the village, he picked up a stomach bug.
- After swimming in the contaminated pool, many people picked up skin rashes.
- Due to poor hygiene conditions, it's easy to pick up infections in some areas.
- She doesn't want to pick up the flu, so she always gets vaccinated
- When traveling in the tropics, it's possible to pick up some unusual diseases.
20
to increase in speed or pace suddenly or gradually
- After a slow start, the runner picked up and finished strong.
- Business usually picks up during the holiday season
- After the break, the team's energy seemed to pick up, leading them to a victory.
- As the music reached its climax, the tempo picked up noticeably.
21
to stand up again after falling
transitive
- She was pushed during the game but swiftly picked herself up and kept playing.
- After tripping on the sidewalk, she quickly picked herself up.
- The boxer was knocked out, but he managed to pick himself up before the count of ten.
- After slipping on the ice, he picked himself up and checked if he was hurt.
- After being tackled, the rugby player quickly picked himself up and rejoined the play.
22
to restore order or cleanliness to a space or object that has become disorganized or messy
transitive
- Can you help me pick up the fallen leaves in the garden?
- Please pick your toys up and put them away before bedtime.
- I'll pick up the papers on the desk and sort them out.
- The janitor quickly picked up the spilled popcorn at the cinema.
- We should pick these papers up and organize them neatly on the desk.
23
to go to a place in a vehicle to collect someone who is waiting for one
- I'll pick you up at the airport.
- I have to pick up my brother from the bus stop.
- She needs to pick up her friend from the station.
- She picked up the kids from school yesterday.
- He'll pick me up after work.