Meanings
present singular third person picks up · participle present picking up · participle past picked up · past picked up
- transitiveTo lift; to grasp and raise.
When you pick up the bag, make sure to support the bottom.
2 more examples
Evidently some, or all, of the boars immolated themselves, for the train crew are reported to have picked up three dead boars and continued to Sézanne, the next stop, where they gave them to the local hospital cooks.
1957 December 28, “Wild Boars Charge French Train”, in Railway Magazine, page 840She came in now, but to the closet; from it she took a simple skirt and blouse. Picking up her underclothing she departed, obviously to dress somewhere else.
1964, Philip K. Dick, “NINE”, in Clans of the Alphane Moon, United States: Ace Books, →OCLC; republished London: HarperCollinsPublishers, 1996, →ISBN, page 112Antonyms: put down
- transitiveTo collect or purchase an object, especially in passing.
Can you pick up a pint of milk on your way home?
2 more examples
"I don't want to spoil any comparison you are going to make," said Jim, "but I was at Winchester and New College." ¶ "That will do," said Mackenzie. "I was dragged up at the workhouse school till I was twelve. Then I ran away and sold papers in the streets, and anything else that I could pick up a few coppers by—except steal.[…]"
1909 September 9, Archibald Marshall [pseudonym; Arthur Hammond Marshall], chapter II, in The Squire’s Daughter, London: Methuen & Co. […], →OCLCFor the brass, you don't need to go out and get any specialized hardware. Instead, go pick up a brass nipple at any hardware store for under $20 and cut it down instead.
2026 August 28, Collin Knoff, “Mid-Century Modern Table”, in Popular Woodworking, volume 290, number 4, page 50Antonyms: drop off
- transitiveTo acquire (something) accidentally; to catch or contract (a disease).
I picked up a cold on my trip last week.
2 more examples
Cars often pick up bits of road tar and asphalt, dried bugs, tree sap, or other debris that’s hard to remove with regular car wash soap.
2020 April 16, Thom Dunn, Rik Paul, “How to Wash and Detail a Car the Right Way”, in The New York Times—WirecutterWe are constantly being exposed to fungi, whether by picking up spores on our skin or eating food on which fungi are hitchhiking. Most of them won’t take up residence in our bodies.
2022 September 29, Carl Zimmer, “A New Approach to Spotting Tumors: Look for Their Microbes”, in The New York Times - intransitivetransitiveTo clean up; to return to an organized state.
You made a mess, aren't you going to pick up after yourself?
1 more example
The floor was strewn with bright snips of origami paper, a crumpled drawing, and one dirty sock, which Amy now shoved under the bed with her foot. ¶ "You're lucky," said Marla. "My mother makes me pick up my room every single day."
1967, Beverly Cleary, Mitch and Amy, HarperCollins, published 2009, →ISBN, page 28Antonyms: mess up
- transitiveTo collect a passenger.
I'll pick you up outside the library.
1 more example
After picking up a few passengers (most likely heading into Exeter for shopping) and setting a few off (for a day at the beach), we get the 'right away' and continue along the sea wall with its iconic sandstone cliffs on the left.
2023 August 23, Pip Dunn, “The last bastion of the HST 'Castles'”, in RAIL, number 990, page 49Antonyms: drop off
- transitiveTo collect and detain (a suspect).
The cops have picked up the man they were looking for.
- transitivemediaTo obtain and publish a story, news item, etc.
The story does not seem to have been widely picked up.
1 more example
News of this notice from the university was picked up by local media and had the effect of raising the ire of some citizens who saw this as an attack on ‘Chinese heritage’[.]
2019, Li Huang, James Lambert, “Another Arrow for the Quiver: A New Methodology for Multilingual Researchers”, in Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, →DOI, page 3 - intransitiveTo restart or resume.
Let's pick up where we left off yesterday.
2 more examples
The plot picks up where the last film left off. The High Table, the organisation that controls crime around the world, has a multi-million-dollar contract out on Wick, who killed a High Table member.
2023 March 14, Caryn James, “John Wick: Chapter 4: 'Soars above most action films'”, in BBCPicking up eight years after The Dark Knight left off, the film finds Gotham enjoying a tenuous peace based on Harvey Dent’s moral ideals rather than the ugly truth of his demise.
2012 July 18, Scott Tobias, AV Club, The Dark Knight Rises - transitiveTo learn, to grasp; to begin to understand; to realize.
It looks complicated, but you'll soon pick it up.
Synonyms: learn
- transitiveTo point out the behaviour, habits, or actions of (a person) in a critical manner; used with on.
She's always picking me up on my grammar.
- intransitivetransitivewith onTo meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes, especially in a social situation.
He was in the fabric store not to buy fabric but to pick up women.
2 more examples
I'll tell you what. You lay off my clients, I'll give you a few pointers picking up women, okay?
1980, Paul Schrader, American Gigolo, spoken by Julian Kaye (Richard Gere)Xavier—first seen as an adult in First Class trying to pick up a woman in a bar—is impotent, at least metaphorically, and will eventually see all of his luxuriant hair fall out.
2016 May 23, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, “Apocalypse pits the strengths of the X-Men series against the weaknesses”, in The Onion AV Club - intransitivetransitiveTo answer a telephone.
I'm calling him, but he just isn't picking up!
Synonyms: pick up the phone
- intransitiveTo receive calls; to function correctly.
I've tried his home number a couple times, but it isn't picking up.
- transitiveTo reduce the despondency of.
[…]they pick me up when I'm feeling blue
1974, Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Sweet Home Alabama” - transitiveTo take control (physically) of something.
Bolton were then just inches from taking the lead, but the dangerous-looking Taylor drilled just wide after picking up a loose ball following Jose Bosingwa's poor attempted clearance.
2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1-0 Bolton”, in BBC - transitiveball gamesTo mark, to defend against an opposition player by following them closely.
And soon after, no-one picked up Shotton who was free to power a 12-yard header over from another Pennant corner, before Pennant sent a free kick straight at Cardiff keeper Tom Heaton.
2011 January 18, David Dulin, “Cardiff 0-2 Stoke”, in BBC - UStransitivegovernmentTo promote somebody who was previously passed over.
The list is about the same as when each class was commissioned, except for a small percentage who were passed over once or twice and then picked up.
1938, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Naval Affairs, Hearings on H.R. 9997 to Regulate the Distribution, Promotion, and Retirement of Officers of the Line of the Navy and for Other Purposes, page 32391 more example
[…] there are now 98 officers of that rank who have been passed over one or more times, most of whom have little prospect of being picked up by future selection boards but will await only the completion of 21 years' service before going on the retired list.
1937, United States. Congress. Senate, Hearings, volume 2, page 141
Synonyms & antonyms
verbTo lift; to grasp and raise.
verbTo collect or purchase an object, especially in passing.
verbTo clean up; to return to an organized state.
verbTo collect a passenger.
verbTo learn, to grasp; to begin to understand; to realize.
verbTo meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes, especially in a social situation.
verbTo answer a telephone.
More synonyms by meaning
verbget to know or become aware of, usually accidentally
verbfill with high spirits; fill with optimism
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Translations
Ancient Greek ἀναλέγω
- ἀναλέγω (analégō)to clean up; restore to an organized state
Arabic قَطَفَ
- قَطَفَ (qaṭafa)to lift; to grasp and raise
Basque jaso
- jasoto lift; to grasp and raise
Bulgarian вдигам, взимам
- вдигам (vdigam)to lift; to grasp and raise
- взимам (vzimam)to lift; to grasp and raise
- разтребвам (raztrebvam)to clean up; restore to an organized state
- взимам (vzimam)to collect a passenger
- подобрявам се (podobrjavam se)to improve, increase, or speed up
- разбирам (razbiram)to learn, to grasp; to begin to understand
- хващам (hvaštam)to receive (a signal)
- забелязвам (zabeljazvam)to notice, detect or discern
- забивам (zabivam)to meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes
Catalan agafar, arreplegar
- agafarto lift; to grasp and raise
- arreplegarto collect an object, especially in passing
- recollirto collect a passenger
- millorarto improve, increase, or speed up
- remuntarto improve, increase, or speed up
- reprendreto restart or resume
- captarto learn, to grasp; to begin to understand
- comprendreto learn, to grasp; to begin to understand
- agafarto learn, to grasp; to begin to understand
- captarto receive (a signal)
- notarto notice, detect or discern
- tirar la canyato meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes
Chinese Mandarin 拾取, 撿 /捡
- 拾取 (shíqǔ)to lift; to grasp and raise
- 撿 /捡 (jiǎn)to lift; to grasp and raise
- 拾 (shí)to lift; to grasp and raise
- 拿起 (náqǐ)to lift; to grasp and raise
- 舉起 /举起 (jǔqǐ)to lift; to grasp and raise
- 拾起 (shíqǐ)to lift; to grasp and raise
- 接 (jiē)to collect a passenger
Czech vyzvednout
- vyzvednoutto collect a passenger
Danish samle, tage
- samleto lift; to grasp and raise
- tageto lift; to grasp and raise
Dutch oppakken, optillen
- oppakkento lift; to grasp and raise
- optillento lift; to grasp and raise
Esperanto preni, repreni
- prenito lift; to grasp and raise
- reprenito lift; to grasp and raise
Finnish nostaa, poimia
- nostaato lift; to grasp and raise
- poimiato lift; to grasp and raise
- ottaa samallato collect an object, especially in passing
- siivotato clean up; restore to an organized state
- ottaa kyytiinto collect a passenger
- poimiato collect a passenger
- noustato improve, increase, or speed up
- kasvaato improve, increase, or speed up
- jatkaato restart or resume
- ymmärtääto learn, to grasp; to begin to understand
- oppiato learn, to grasp; to begin to understand
- vastaanottaato receive (a signal)
French soulever, prendre
- souleverto lift; to grasp and raise
- prendreto collect an object, especially in passing
- collecterto collect an object, especially in passing
- prendre (qqn en voiture)to collect a passenger
- chercherto collect a passenger
- s'améliorerto improve, increase, or speed up
- reprendreto restart or resume
- saisir (comprendre)to learn, to grasp; to begin to understand
- capterto receive (a signal)
- noterto notice, detect or discern
- draguerto meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes
- prendre (ex: l'appel)to answer (a telephone), see pick up the phone
German aufheben, aufnehmen
- aufhebento lift; to grasp and raise
- aufnehmento lift; to grasp and raise
- hochhebento lift; to grasp and raise
- hochnehmento lift; to grasp and raise
- abhebento lift; to grasp and raise
- mitnehmento collect an object, especially in passing
- aufnehmento collect an object, especially in passing
- auflesento collect an object, especially in passing
- sich ansteckento collect an object, especially in passing
- aufklaubento collect an object, especially in passing
- sich etwas zuziehento collect an object, especially in passing
- aufräumento clean up; restore to an organized state
Greek σηκώνω
- σηκώνω (sikóno)to lift; to grasp and raise
Hebrew הרים, אסף
- הרים (herim)to lift; to grasp and raise
- אסף (asáf)to lift; to grasp and raise
- לקח (lakákh)to lift; to grasp and raise
- אָסַף (asáf)to collect a passenger
Hindi उठाना
- उठाना (uṭhānā)to lift; to grasp and raise
Hungarian felvesz, felemel
- felveszto lift; to grasp and raise
- felemelto lift; to grasp and raise
- felszedto collect an object, especially in passing
- összeszedto collect an object, especially in passing
- összegyűjtto collect an object, especially in passing
- felveszto collect a passenger
- elhozto collect a passenger
- elviszto collect a passenger
- elmegy érteto collect a passenger
- érte megyto collect a passenger
- javulto improve, increase, or speed up
- erősödikto improve, increase, or speed up
Icelandic hefja, lyfta
- hefjato lift; to grasp and raise
- lyftato lift; to grasp and raise
- byrjato restart or resume
Irish pioc suas, tóg
- pioc suasto lift; to grasp and raise
- tógto learn, to grasp; to begin to understand
Italian tirare su, sollevare
- tirare suto lift; to grasp and raise
- sollevareto lift; to grasp and raise
- alzareto lift; to grasp and raise
- elevareto lift; to grasp and raise
- raccogliereto collect an object, especially in passing
- prendereto collect a passenger
- abbordareto meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes
- adescareto meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes
Japanese 拾う, 拾い上げる
- 拾う (hirou)to lift; to grasp and raise
- 拾い上げる (hiroiageru)to lift; to grasp and raise
- 乗せる (noseru)to collect a passenger
- 迎えに行く (mukae ni iku)to collect a passenger
- ナンパする (nanpa suru)to meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes
Korean 줍다, 마중하다
- 줍다 (jupda)to lift; to grasp and raise
- 마중하다 (majunghada)to collect a passenger
- 작업하다 (jageophada)to meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes
Lithuanian pakelti
- pakeltito lift; to grasp and raise
Malay ngorat
- ngoratto meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes
Norwegian Bokmål plukke opp (noen), hente (noen)
- plukke opp (noen)to collect a passenger
- hente (noen)to collect a passenger
- sjekketo meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes
- sjekke oppto meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes
- forføreto meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes
Polish podnosić, podnieść
- podnosićto lift; to grasp and raise
- podnieśćto lift; to grasp and raise
- zajeżdżać impf poto collect an object, especially in passing
- zajechaćto collect an object, especially in passing
- sprzątaćto clean up; restore to an organized state
- posprzątaćto clean up; restore to an organized state
- odebraćto collect a passenger
- podnosić sięto improve, increase, or speed up
- podnieść sięto improve, increase, or speed up
- zaczynaćto restart or resume
- zacząćto restart or resume
- zrozumiećto learn, to grasp; to begin to understand
Portuguese pegar, coletar
- pegarto lift; to grasp and raise
- coletarto collect an object, especially in passing
- levantarto collect an object, especially in passing
- recolherto collect an object, especially in passing
- buscarto collect a passenger
- apanharto collect a passenger
- pegarto collect a passenger
- captarto receive (a signal)
- pegarto receive (a signal)
- pegarto meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes
- atenderto answer (a telephone), see pick up the phone
Russian подбира́ть, подобра́ть
- подбира́ть (podbirátʹ)to lift; to grasp and raise
- подобра́ть (podobrátʹ)to lift; to grasp and raise
- поднима́ть (podnimátʹ)to lift; to grasp and raise
- подня́ть (podnjátʹ)to lift; to grasp and raise
- подбира́ть (podbirátʹ)to collect an object, especially in passing
- подобра́ть (podobrátʹ)to collect an object, especially in passing
- забира́ть (zabirátʹ)to collect a passenger
- забра́ть (zabrátʹ)to collect a passenger
- подбира́ть (podbirátʹ)to collect a passenger
- подобра́ть (podobrátʹ)to collect a passenger
- улучша́ться (ulučšátʹsja)to improve, increase, or speed up
- улу́чшиться (ulúčšitʹsja)to improve, increase, or speed up
Scottish Gaelic tog
- togto lift; to grasp and raise
Slovak zdvihnúť, vyzdvihnúť
- zdvihnúťto lift; to grasp and raise
- vyzdvihnúťto collect an object, especially in passing
- vyzdvihnúťto collect a passenger
- dvíhať sato improve, increase, or speed up
- zdvihnúť sato improve, increase, or speed up
- pokračovaťto restart or resume
- chytiťto receive (a signal)
- chytaťto receive (a signal)
- zbaliťto meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes
- zdvihnúťto answer (a telephone), see pick up the phone
- dvíhaťto answer (a telephone), see pick up the phone
Spanish coger, asir
- cogerto lift; to grasp and raise
- asirto lift; to grasp and raise
- pepenarto lift; to grasp and raise
- recogerto collect an object, especially in passing
- recolectarto collect an object, especially in passing
- recogerto collect a passenger
- buscarto collect a passenger
- mejorarto improve, increase, or speed up
- repuntarto improve, increase, or speed up
- remontarto improve, increase, or speed up
- retomarto restart or resume
- reanudarto restart or resume
Tamil எடு, வாங்கு
- எடு (eṭu)to lift; to grasp and raise
- வாங்கு (vāṅku)to collect an object, especially in passing
- கூட்டிக்கொண்டு போ (kūṭṭikkoṇṭu pō)to collect a passenger
- எடு (eṭu)to improve, increase, or speed up
- தொடர் (toṭar)to restart or resume
- தொடங்கு (toṭaṅku)to restart or resume
- கிடை (kiṭai)to receive (a signal)
- கவனி (kavaṉi)to notice, detect or discern
- எடு (eṭu)to answer (a telephone), see pick up the phone
- கட்டு (kaṭṭu)to pay for
Thai ยก, หยิบ
- ยก (yók)to lift; to grasp and raise
- หยิบ (yìp)to lift; to grasp and raise
- เก็บ (gèp)to collect an object, especially in passing
- รับ (ráp)to collect a passenger
- จีบ (jìip)to meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes
- รับ (ráp)to answer (a telephone), see pick up the phone
Turkish almak, ayarlamak
- almakto collect a passenger
- ayarlamakto meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes
- düşürmekto meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes
- kaldırmakto meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes
- tavlamakto meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes
Ukrainian підбира́ти, підніма́ти
- підбира́ти (pidbyráty)to lift; to grasp and raise
- підніма́ти (pidnimáty)to lift; to grasp and raise
- прибиратися (prybyratysja)to clean up; restore to an organized state
- прибратися (prybratysja)to clean up; restore to an organized state
- забира́ти (zabyráty)to collect a passenger
- підбира́ти (pidbyráty)to collect a passenger
- покращуватися (pokraščuvatysja)to improve, increase, or speed up
- покращитися (pokraščytysja)to improve, increase, or speed up
- підчепи́ти (pidčepýty)to meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes
Urdu اٹھانا, لینا
- اٹھانا (uṭhānā)to lift; to grasp and raise
- لینا (lenā)to collect a passenger
- اُٹھانا (uṭhānā)to answer (a telephone), see pick up the phone
- چُکانا (cukānā)to pay for
Vietnamese nhặt, lượm
- nhặtto lift; to grasp and raise
- lượmto lift; to grasp and raise
- lụmto lift; to grasp and raise
- đónto collect a passenger
Cite this entry
pick up. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pick%20up
“pick up.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pick%20up. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pick up,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pick%20up.
Source: pick up on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.