WordValepick up
to collect; to learn casually; to improve
In more detail
1. (verb) to lift or raise something from the ground or a surface
2. (verb) to collect or get someone or something from a place
3. (verb) to learn something by doing it rather than being taught
4. (verb) to notice or detect something
5. (verb) to increase or improve
6. (verb) to resume or continue something that was stopped
Examples
- 1. She picked up the book from the table.
- 2. I'll pick you up at the station at 6 PM.
- 3. He picked up French by living in Paris for a year.
How to use pick up
Pick up is a versatile phrasal verb used across multiple contexts, from physical action (lifting objects) to figurative meanings (learning skills, detecting signals, or increasing pace). It is neutral and common in both spoken and written English. The tone and register depend on context: it can be casual in conversation or formal in technical writing.
Common phrases
- pick up speed
- pick up the phone
- pick up on something
- pick up after someone
- pick up passengers
- pick up where you left off
Synonyms
lift · collect · acquire · detect · resume
Opposites
drop · put down · lower
Word family
pickup (noun) · pick-up (noun/adjective)
A common mistake
Learners often confuse the spelling and hyphenation of the noun form—it can be written as 'pickup', 'pick-up', or 'pick up' depending on context and regional preference, which causes inconsistency.
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