pick out

verb

picked out; picking out; picks out
Synonyms of pick outnext

transitive verb

1
: discern, make out
2
: to play the notes of by ear or one by one
picking out tunes on the piano

Examples of pick out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Pašalić had nudged the ball across goal after being picked out by a cross from wide. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 3 July 2026 She's been picking out a white dress for decades, for music videos, red carpets and more. — Alex Apatoff, PEOPLE, 27 June 2026 The early morning sun picked out brilliant flashes of red laced with white below an almost black back. — Marc Terziev, Outdoor Life, 25 June 2026 For now, the robot is limited to activities such as picking out parts and loading conveyors. — Stephen Witt, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for pick out

Word History

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pick out was in 1540

Rhymes for pick out

See All Rhymes for pick out

Browse Nearby Words

pick oneself up
pick out
pick over
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pick out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pick%20out. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pick out

verb
1
: to see or detect with some difficulty
picked out the trail in the snow
2
: to play the notes of by ear or one by one
pick out a tune

More from Merriam-Webster on pick out

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pick out

Nglish: Translation of pick out for Spanish Speakers

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