picnic
PIHK-nihk
Picnic (noun) means a casual meal eaten outdoors, often in a park or countryside, where everyone brings their own food. Example: “We packed sandwiches and had a picnic by the lake.”
noun
1
A casual meal eaten outdoors, often in a park or countryside, where everyone brings their own food.
"We packed sandwiches and had a picnic by the lake."
"The kids spread a blanket on the grass for their picnic."
"Our picnic was ruined when it started to rain."
2
Something easy or pleasant to do (informal, often used negatively).
"Moving house with three kids is no picnic."
"Learning to drive in heavy traffic is no picnic."
"Compared with his old job, this new one is a picnic."
verb
1
To have a picnic.
"They picnicked in the shade of an old oak tree."
"On sunny weekends we like to picnic in the park."
"Several families were picnicking beside the river when the clouds rolled in."
How to use picnic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn outdoor meal, or (informally) something easy.
Common pairings
go on a picnic
picnic basket
no picnic
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like picnic.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- picnics
- Third person singular
- picnics
- Past tense
- picnicked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We packed sandwiches and had a _____ by the lake.
Etymology
Borrowed in the 1700s from French pique-nique, a word of uncertain origin describing a meal to which guests each contributed a dish.
Class of 1700
picnic joined the language around 1700.
See the full Class of 1700 →
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “picnic” mean?
The word “picnic” means a casual meal eaten outdoors, often in a park or countryside, where everyone brings their own food. In plain terms, an outdoor meal, or (informally) something easy.
How do you pronounce “picnic”?
“Picnic” is pronounced PIHK-nihk (/ˈpɪknɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “picnic” in a sentence?
Here is “picnic” used in a sentence: “We packed sandwiches and had a picnic by the lake.”
What part of speech is “picnic”?
Depending on how it is used, “picnic” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “picnic” come from?
The word “picnic” dates back to around 1700 and comes from French. Borrowed in the 1700s from French pique-nique, a word of uncertain origin describing a meal to which guests each contributed a dish.
Is “picnic” a common word?
“Picnic” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “picnic” have?
“Picnic” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a casual meal eaten outdoors, often in a park or countryside, where everyone brings their own food.
What is the difference between a picnic and a barbecue?
A picnic is a casual outdoor meal that people carry with them and eat cold or pre-prepared, often on a blanket or at a table in a park. A barbecue centers on cooking food, usually meat, over an open flame or grill at the location itself.
Why do people say something is "no picnic"?
When something is described as "no picnic," it means the opposite of the word's usual easygoing sense: it is difficult, unpleasant, or demanding. This informal, often negative use plays off the idea that a picnic is normally relaxed and enjoyable.
Is picnic used as a verb as well as a noun?
Yes, picnic can be used as a verb meaning to have a picnic, as in "they picnicked by the river." The noun form describing the meal itself is more common in everyday speech.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include picnic:
