pɪk ʌp
neutral
beginner
- Base verb:
- pick
- Particle:
- up
- Separable:
- Yes
What does "pick up" mean?
- To lift something from a surface
- To collect someone or something from a place
- To learn something without formal study
- To improve or increase
- To detect or notice something
- To resume after an interruption
Examples
- Can you pick up your clothes from the floor?
- I'll pick you up at the airport at 8 PM.
- She picked up French while living in Montreal.
- Sales usually pick up before Christmas.
- The dog picked up the scent of the rabbit.
- Let's pick up where we left off yesterday.
How to use it
One of the most common phrasal verbs with many meanings. 'Pickup' (noun) refers to collecting someone, or a type of truck. 'Pick up the pace' means to go faster.
Word order
Object can go between: 'pick the book up' or after: 'pick up the book'. Pronouns must go between: 'pick it up'. Very versatile.
Similar expressions
lift
collect
learn
improve
detect
resume
Opposites
put down
drop off
forget
decline
Related phrasal verbs
- pick out
To choose or select something from a group
- pick on
To bully or repeatedly criticize someone unfairly
- pick apart
To criticize something in great detail
- get up
To rise from bed after sleeping
- turn up
To increase the volume, heat, or intensity of something
- give up
To stop trying to do something, often because it is too difficult
Use it in a practice answer
Try "pick up" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.