Pick up — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb

Meaning & Definition of Pick up

Pick up (verb)

  1. to take hold of and lift up
  2. to gather together, collect
  3. to clean up, tidy

Pick up (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to acquire complete knowledge, understanding, or skill in

    "he has a knack for picking up a language in a few weeks"

    similar: get, learn, master, get the hang of
    related: apprehend, comprehend, grasp, know, understand, absorb, assimilate, digest, drink (in), imbibe, ascertain, descry, detect, determine, dig up, discern, discover, examine, find out, hear, hit (on or upon), run down, scare up, search (for), see, track (down), tumble (to), unearth, major (in), study, memorize
    opposite: unlearn
    near: forget, misunderstand, miss, overlook, disregard, ignore, neglect

  2. to bring together in one body or place

    "pick up all of your things because we have to be off this beach before dark"

    similar: accumulate, amass, assemble, bulk (up), collect, concentrate, congregate, constellate, corral, garner, gather, group, lump, round up, get together
    related: ball, batch, bunch, cluster, huddle, heap, pile, stack, band, brigade, muster, raise, rally, flock, herd, hive, pack, press, swarm, throng, combine, connect, join, link, merge, pool, unite, archive, arrange, collate, compile, organize, systematize, scrape (up or together), re-collect, regather, regroup
    opposite: dispel, disperse, dissipate, scatter
    near: break up, disband, disintegrate, dissolve, separate, sever, split (up), dismiss, send

  3. to get possession of (something) by giving money in exchange for

    "could you pick up some milk at the store?"

    similar: buy, cop (slang), purchase, take
    related: acquire, gain, garner, get, obtain, procure, secure, win, finance, pay (for), spring (for), barter (for), deal (for), dicker (over), exchange (for), haggle (for), negotiate (about), trade (for), bargain (with), chaffer (with), horse-trade (with), palter (with), bid, offer, rebuy, repurchase
    near: deal (in), market, merchandise, retail, sell, vend

  4. to gradually increase in

    "the boat was just picking up speed when it was rammed by another boat"

    similar: build up, gain, gather, grow (in)
    related: double (in), triple (in), accrue, accumulate, amass, excite, stimulate, enhance, enlarge, enrich, expand, extend, maximize, boost, elevate, jack (up), mount, ramp (up), step up
    opposite: decrease (in), lose
    near: abate, decline (in), diminish (in), dip, dwindle, fall (in), lessen, taper, taper off

  5. to move from a lower to a higher place or position

    "pick up your feet while I vacuum in front of the sofa"

    similar: boost, crane, elevate, heave, heft, heighten, hike, hoist, jack (up), lift, perk (up), raise, take up, up, uphold, uplift, upraise
    related: ascend, mount, rise, rear, upend
    opposite: drop, lower
    near: descend, dip, fall, pitch, plunge, slip, bear, depress, press, push, sink, submerge

  6. to take or keep under one's control by authority of law

    "police picked up the fugitive when she went out to buy food"

    similar: apprehend, arrest, bust (slang), collar, nab, nail, nick (British slang), pinch, pull in, restrain, run in, seize
    related: bag, capture, catch, get, grab, grapple, hook, land, snap (up), snare, snatch, trap, commit, confine, detain, hold, immure, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, jug, lock (up), bind, enchain, fetter, handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel, rearrest, remand
    opposite: discharge
    near: emancipate, free, liberate, loose, loosen, release, spring, unbind, unchain

  7. 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?"

    similar: clean (up), tidy (up), clean house, set straight
    related: houseclean, housekeep, clean (off), neaten, police (up), straighten (up), turn out, unclutter, arrange, order
    near: clutter, disarrange, mess (up)

  8. 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"

    similar: continue, proceed (with), renew, reopen, restart, resume
    related: resuscitate, revive, recrudesce
    near: complete, conclude, consummate, end, finalize, finish, belay, break, can (slang), cease, check, cut, desist, discontinue, drop, halt, knock off, leave off, quit, scuttle, shut off, stay, stop, terminate

  9. to make neat

    "the boy's bedroom looked like it hadn't been picked up in quite a while"

    similar: neaten, redd (up or out) (chiefly dialect), spruce (up), straighten (up or out), tidy (up), trim
    related: arrange, array, classify, codify, dispose, draw up, marshal, order, organize, range, systematize
    near: disarrange, disarray, discompose, dishevel, disorder, disorganize, disrupt, disturb, jumble, mess (up), mix (up), muddle, muss, rumple, scramble, shuffle, tousle, tumble, upset

Related Entry: Pick up on (phrase)

Pick up on is a different word from Pick up. The synonyms below are for pick up on, not for pick up.

  1. to have a clear idea of

    "The students picked up on the new material quickly."

    similar: appreciate, apprehend, assimilate, behold, catch, catch on (to), cognize, compass, comprehend, conceive, cotton (to or on to), decipher, decode, dig, discern, get, grasp, grok, intuit, know, make, make out, perceive, recognize, register, savvy, see, seize, sense, tumble (to), twig, understand
    related: absorb, digest, take in, realize, fathom, penetrate, pierce
    opposite: miss
    near: misapprehend, misconceive, misconstrue, misinterpret, misperceive, misread, mistake, misunderstand

  2. to take for one's own use (something originated by another)

    "She picked up on earlier styles of painting and added her own flourishes."

    similar: adopt, borrow, embrace, espouse, take on, take up
    related: domesticate, naturalize, appropriate, arrogate, take over, usurp, absorb, assimilate, incorporate, quote, cherish, prize, treasure, cultivate, follow, heed, honor, use, utilize, bring up, foster, nurture, raise, rear, affect, assume, copy, imitate, pretend, put on, simulate
    near: abandon, forsake, give up, relinquish, surrender, abjure, abnegate, disown, reject, renounce, repudiate, spurn, discard, jettison, junk, throw away, throw out

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Pick up

The most common words with a similar meaning to Pick up:

Slang: cop, bust
British slang: nick
Chiefly dialect: redd (up or out)
get, learn, master, accumulate, amass, assemble, bulk (up), collect, concentrate, congregate, constellate, corral, garner, gather, group, lump, round up, buy, purchase, take, build up, gain, grow (in), boost, crane, elevate, heave, heft, heighten, hike, hoist, jack (up), lift, perk (up), raise, take up, up, uphold, uplift, upraise

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Pick up

Words with the opposite meaning of Pick up:

unlearn, dispel, disperse, dissipate, scatter, decrease (in), lose, drop, lower, discharge

Related Words for Pick up

comprehend, grasp, know, understand, absorb, assimilate, digest, drink (in), imbibe, ascertain, descry, detect, determine, dig up, discern, discover, examine, find out, hear, hit (on or upon), run down, scare up, search (for), see, track (down), tumble (to), unearth, major (in), study, memorize

Near Antonyms of Pick up

forget, misunderstand, miss, overlook, disregard, ignore, neglect, break up, disband, disintegrate, dissolve, separate, sever, split (up), dismiss, send, deal (in), market, merchandise, retail, sell, vend, abate, decline (in), diminish (in), dip, dwindle, fall (in), lessen, taper

Word Forms of Pick up

Inflections: picked up, picking up, picks up

Origin & Etymology of Pick up

First known use: 14th centuryt

Words & Phrases Containing Pick up

pick up on, pick up after (someone), pick up and leave/go, pick up speed/momentum, pick up steam, pick up the pace, pick up the pieces

Frequently Asked Questions about Pick up

What does "Pick up" mean?

"Pick up" means to take hold of and lift up. As a verb, it is defined as: to take hold of and lift up. It has 9 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Pick up"?

Other words for "Pick up" include get, learn, master, accumulate, amass, assemble, bulk (up) and collect. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Pick up" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Pick up"?

There are 226 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Pick up". Common alternatives include get, learn, master, accumulate, amass, assemble, bulk (up), collect, concentrate and congregate.

What is a slang word for "Pick up"?

Slang words for "Pick up" include cop, bust and nick.

What is the opposite of "Pick up"?

Antonyms of "Pick up" include unlearn, dispel, disperse, dissipate, scatter, decrease (in), lose and drop. Near antonyms include forget, misunderstand, miss and overlook.

How do you use "Pick up" in a sentence?

Examples of "Pick up" in a sentence: "he has a knack for picking up a language in a few weeks"; "pick up all of your things because we have to be off this beach before dark"; "could you pick up some milk at the store?".

Is "Pick up" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Pick up" is a verb.

What is the origin of the word "Pick up"?

First known use: 14th centuryt.