pick up

Verb (16)

1. take and lift upwardSynonyms: pick uplift upgather up
2. take up by hand“He picked up the book and started to read”Synonyms: pick up
3. give a passenger or a hitchhiker a lift“We picked up a hitchhiker on the highway”Synonyms: pick up
4. 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”Synonyms: collectpick upgather upcall for
5. 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”Synonyms: learnhearget wordget windpick upfind outget a linediscoversee
6. get in addition, as an increase“The candidate picked up thousands of votes after his visit to the nursing home”Synonyms: pick up
7. take into custody“the police nabbed the suspected criminals”Synonyms: collarnailapprehendarrestpick upnabcop
8. buy casually or spontaneously“I picked up some food for a snack”Synonyms: pick up
9. register (perceptual input)“pick up a signal”Synonyms: pick upreceive
10. lift out or reflect from a background“The scarf picks up the color of the skirt”“His eyes picked up his smile”Synonyms: pick up
11. meet someone for sexual purposes“he always tries to pick up girls in bars”Synonyms: pick up
12. fill with high spirits; fill with optimism“Music can uplift your spirits”Synonyms: elatelift upupliftpick upintoxicate
13. improve significantly; go from bad to good“Her performance in school picked up”Synonyms: turn aroundpick up
14. 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”Synonyms: catchpick up
15. eat by pecking at, like a birdSynonyms: peckpick up
16. gain or regain energy“I picked up after a nap”Synonyms: perk upperkpercolatepick upgain vigor