picking

American  

[pik-ing] / ˈpɪk ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that picks.

2. something that is or may be picked or picked up.

3. the amount picked.

4. pickings,

   1. scraps or gleanings.

      the pickings of a feast.

   2. profits or gains; spoils.

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Etymology

Origin of picking

before 900; Middle English; Old English picung (once) a mark made by picking; pick ¹, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

What was the point of picking him if you were not going to trust him?

From BBC

The makeup maximalism of the last decade wound down before the pandemic hit, with a stronger skin-care cycle picking up before the pandemic and booming in the years since.

From MarketWatch

On social media, the schadenfreude has verged on gleeful, with the public picking up on even the smallest references to confirm their priors and their thirst for justice is palpable.

From The Wall Street Journal

In what may reignite the cola wars, Pepsi's spot for its Zero Sugar line features a polar bear — long associated with rival Coca-Cola — suffering an existential crisis after picking Pepsi in a blind taste test.

From Barron's

After picking up a string of international awards and prizes, Akinola and Wale are jointly nominated for this year's Bafta Film Awards for an outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer.

From BBC

Related Words

• choice
• collection
• draft
• election
• excerpt
• option
• pick