pick up

/pɪk əp/

/pɪk əp/

Other forms: picked up; picking up; picks up

Definitions of pick up

1. verb

   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
2. verb

   take up by hand
   “He picked up the book and started to read”

   type of:

   touch

   make physical contact with, come in contact with
3. verb

   eat by pecking at, like a bird
   synonyms: peck

   type of:

   eat

   take in solid food
4. verb

   take into custody
   synonyms: apprehend, arrest, collar, cop, nab, nail

   type of:

   clutch, prehend, seize

   take hold of; grab
5. verb

   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
6. verb

   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
7. verb

   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
8. verb

   meet someone for sexual purposes
   type of:

   get together, meet

   get together socially or for a specific purpose
9. verb

   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
10. verb

    perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily
    “The dog picked up the scent”

    synonyms: catch

    type of:

    comprehend, perceive

    become aware of through the senses
11. verb

    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:

    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
12. verb

    register (perceptual input)
    “pick up a signal”

    synonyms: receive

    types:

    hear

    receive a communication from someone

    type of:

    comprehend, perceive

    become aware of through the senses
13. verb

    improve significantly; go from bad to good
    “Her performance in school picked up”

    synonyms: turn around

    type of:

    ameliorate, better, improve, meliorate

    get better
14. verb

    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
15. verb

    fill with high spirits; fill with optimism
    synonyms: elate, intoxicate, lift up, uplift

    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
16. verb

    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