pick
pihk
Pick (verb) means to choose one thing from a number of options. Example: “You can pick any book from the shelf and borrow it.”
verb
1
To choose one thing from a number of options.
"You can pick any book from the shelf and borrow it."
"She picked the blue dress for the party."
"We need to pick a date for the wedding."
2
To gather or harvest, especially fruit, by pulling it from where it grows.
"In summer, we pick strawberries at the farm down the road."
"Farm workers picked grapes from the vines all week."
"They spent the morning picking apples in the orchard."
3
To pull at something repeatedly, often with the fingers.
"The parrot likes to pick at its feathers when it is bored."
"She picked nervously at the loose thread on her sleeve."
"Stop picking at that scab, it'll never heal."
4
To open a lock without the proper key, using a thin tool.
"The burglar tried to pick the lock on the garden shed."
"In the film, a spy picks a door lock with a hairpin."
"The locksmith picked the lock in under a minute."
noun
1
A pointed tool used for digging or breaking up hard ground; a pickaxe.
"The miners used a heavy pick to break up the rock."
"She carried a pick and a shovel to the allotment."
"He swung the pick into the frozen soil."
2
A small flat piece of plastic or bone used to pluck guitar strings; a plectrum.
"The guitarist held a thin pick between her finger and thumb."
"I dropped my pick, and it slid under the sofa."
"He lost his favorite pick during the show."
3
The best or most preferred choice.
"The fish stew is the pick of the menu here."
"This cheese is my pick of the bunch."
"That restaurant is the pick of the neighborhood."
How to use pick
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo choose, gather, pluck, or pry something loose — or a tool/object used for that purpose.
Common mistake
"Pick up" (as a phrasal verb) has its own meanings — to lift, collect, or learn something — distinct from plain "pick."
Common pairings
pick a fight
pick and choose
take your pick
guitar pick
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Word forms
- Plural
- picks
- Third person singular
- picks
- Past tense
- picked
- Archaic forms
- pickest, pickedst, picketh
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
You can _____ any book from the shelf and borrow it.
Etymology
From Old English roots meaning "to pick, peck, or prick," related to Dutch pikken and German picken.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for pick
See all rhymes for pick →Frequently asked questions
What does “pick” mean?
The word “pick” means to choose one thing from a number of options. In plain terms, to choose, gather, pluck, or pry something loose — or a tool/object used for that purpose.
How do you pronounce “pick”?
“Pick” is pronounced pihk (/pɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “pick” in a sentence?
Here is “pick” used in a sentence: “She picked the blue dress for the party.”
What part of speech is “pick”?
Depending on how it is used, “pick” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “pick” come from?
The word “pick” comes from Old English. From Old English roots meaning "to pick, peck, or prick," related to Dutch pikken and German picken.
Is “pick” a common word?
“Pick” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “pick” have?
“Pick” has 7 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to choose one thing from a number of options.
What is the difference between pick and choose?
Pick and choose are close in meaning, and both involve selecting from options. Pick is more casual and often quicker or more spontaneous, as in "pick a card." Choose can suggest a bit more thought and weighing of alternatives. In most everyday sentences they are interchangeable.
What is an example of pick used in a sentence?
You might say, "Pick a colour for the walls," or "She was picked for the team." In both, one thing is selected from several options, whether a shade of paint or a player from a group. That act of selecting is the core meaning of the verb.
Is pick formal or informal?
As a verb meaning to choose, pick is fairly casual and common in everyday speech. In more formal writing, select or choose often feels more polished. Still, pick is perfectly correct and widely understood, so it fits most conversations and general writing without any problem.
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