|
  • Search Results
  • Advanced Search
  • List Builder
  • Random Word

pick up

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: pick up

1
 v
take and lift upward
2
 v
perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily
3
 v
improve significantly; go from bad to good
4
 v
fill with high spirits; fill with optimism
5
 v
lift out or reflect from a background
FULL DEFINITIONS OF: pick up
1

v take and lift upward

Synonyms:
gather up, lift up
Type of:
bring up, elevate, get up, lift, raise
raise from a lower to a higher position

v take up by hand

“He picked up the book and started to read”
Type of:
touch
make physical contact with, come in contact with

v eat by pecking at, like a bird

Synonyms:
peck
Type of:
eat
take in solid food

v take into custody

Synonyms:
apprehend, arrest, collar, cop, nab, nail
Type of:
clutch, prehend, seize
take hold of; grab

v give a passenger or a hitchhiker a lift

“We picked up a hitchhiker on the highway”
Type of:
transport
move something or somebody around; usually over long distances

v gather or collect

“She picked up the children at the day care center”
“They pick up our trash twice a week”
Synonyms:
call for, collect, gather up
Type of:
acquire, get
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

v buy casually or spontaneously

“I picked up some food for a snack”
Type of:
buy, purchase
obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction

v meet someone for sexual purposes

“he always tries to pick up girls in bars”
Type of:
get together, meet
get together socially or for a specific purpose

v get in addition, as an increase

“The candidate picked up thousands of votes after his visit to the nursing home”
Type of:
acquire, get
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
2

v perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily

“The dog picked up the scent”
Synonyms:
catch
Type of:
comprehend, perceive
to become aware of through the senses

v get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally

Synonyms:
discover, find out, get a line, get wind, get word, hear, learn, see
find, see, witness
perceive or be contemporaneous with
Types:
show 8 types...
hide 8 types...
get the goods
discover some bad or hidden information about
wise up
get wise to
catch, trip up
detect a blunder or misstep
ascertain
learn or discover with certainty
discover, find
make a discovery
rake up
bring to light
price
ascertain or learn the price of
ferret, ferret out
search and discover through persistent investigation

v register (perceptual input)

“pick up a signal”
Synonyms:
receive
Types:
hear
receive a communication from someone
Type of:
comprehend, perceive
to become aware of through the senses
3

v improve significantly; go from bad to good

“Her performance in school picked up”
Synonyms:
turn around
Type of:
ameliorate, better, improve, meliorate
get better

v gain or regain energy

“I picked up after a nap”
Synonyms:
gain vigor, percolate, perk, perk up
Type of:
convalesce, recover, recuperate
get over an illness or shock
4

v fill with high spirits; fill with optimism

Synonyms:
elate, intoxicate, lift up, uplift
Antonyms:
cast down, deject, demoralise, demoralize, depress, dismay, dispirit, get down
lower someone's spirits; make downhearted
Types:
beatify
make blessedly happy
puff
make proud or conceited
beatify, exalt, exhilarate, inebriate, thrill, tickle pink
fill with sublime emotion
Type of:
excite, shake, shake up, stimulate, stir
stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of
5

v lift out or reflect from a background

“The scarf picks up the color of the skirt”
“His eyes picked up his smile”
Type of:
bring out, set off
direct attention to, as if by means of contrast
Launch
WORD FAMILY
USAGE EXAMPLES