Definition

1. Verb (Transitive):

   • To lift or take something up from a surface using one's hands.
   • To collect or gather someone or something.
   • To acquire, learn, or obtain something, often in an informal or incidental manner.
   • To improve or increase in condition, speed, or activity.
   • To detect or receive something, such as a signal, scent, or sound.
   • To resume or continue something after an interruption.
   • To give someone a ride in a vehicle.

2. Verb (Intransitive):

   • To improve or recover, as in health or spirits.
   • To increase in speed or activity.

Usage and Examples

• Lifting or Taking:

  • He stopped to pick up the pen he dropped.
  • Can you pick up that package from the post office?

• Collecting or Gathering:

  • I need to pick up my dry cleaning.
  • The bus picks up passengers on this corner.

• Acquiring or Learning:

  • She picked up some French while living in Paris.
  • I picked up this habit from my grandfather.

• Improving or Increasing:

  • The wind is starting to pick up.
  • Business usually picks up in the summer.

• Detecting or Receiving:

  • Our radio can pick up stations from across the country.
  • The dog picked up the trail.

• Resuming:

  • Let's pick up the discussion after lunch.
  • The story picks up five years later.

• Giving a Ride:

  • I'll pick you up at 8 PM.

Advanced Usage

• "Pick up on (something)": To notice or understand something, often something subtle.

  • Did you pick up on the tension in the room?
  • She quickly picked up on the new software.

• "Pick up the tab/bill/check": To pay for something, especially a meal.

  • My boss picked up the tab for dinner.

• "Pick up the pieces": To try to return to a normal state after a difficult or damaging event.

  • After the divorce, she had to pick up the pieces of her life.

Variants and Related Words

• Pickup (n): 1. A small truck with an open back. 2. An improvement in activity. 3. The act of collecting someone or something.

  • He drives a red pickup truck.
  • We've seen a pickup in sales this quarter.

• Pick-me-up (n): Something that makes you feel more energetic or cheerful.

  • A cup of coffee is a great pick-me-up in the morning.

Synonyms

• Lift: To raise to a higher position.
• Collect: To bring or gather together.
• Acquire: To come into possession of.
• Improve: To make or become better.
• Perceive: To become aware of through the senses.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Pick up after (someone): To tidy things someone else has left untidy.

  • I'm tired of picking up after my roommate.

• Pick up where (someone/something) left off: To continue from the point where someone or something stopped.

  • The new manager will pick up where her predecessor left off.

Related Idioms

• Pick up steam: To gain momentum or energy.

  • The project is finally picking up steam.

• Pick someone's brain: To ask someone questions in order to get information or advice.

  • Can I pick your brain about marketing strategies?

Verb

1. gain or regain energy
   • I picked up after a nap
2. eat by pecking at, like a bird
3. perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily
   • I caught the aroma of coffee
   • He caught the allusion in her glance
   • ears open to catch every sound
   • The dog picked up the scent
   • Catch a glimpse
4. improve significantly; go from bad to good
   • Her performance in school picked up
5. fill with high spirits; fill with optimism
   • Music can uplift your spirits
6. meet someone for sexual purposes
   • he always tries to pick up girls in bars
7. lift out or reflect from a background
   • The scarf picks up the color of the skirt
   • His eyes picked up his smile
8. register (perceptual input)
   • pick up a signal
9. buy casually or spontaneously
   • I picked up some food for a snack
10. take into custody
    • the police nabbed the suspected criminals
11. get in addition, as an increase
    • The candidate picked up thousands of votes after his visit to the nursing home
12. get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally
    • I learned that she has two grown-up children
    • I see that you have been promoted
13. gather or collect
    • You can get the results on Monday
    • She picked up the children at the day care center
    • They pick up our trash twice a week
14. give a passenger or a hitchhiker a lift
    • We picked up a hitchhiker on the highway
15. take up by hand
    • He picked up the book and started to read
16. take and lift upward