picking
Americannoun
-
the act of a person or thing that picks.
-
something that is or may be picked or picked up.
-
the amount picked.
-
pickings,
-
scraps or gleanings.
the pickings of a feast.
-
profits or gains; spoils.
-
Etymology
Origin of picking
before 900; Middle English; Old English picung (once) a mark made by picking; see pick 1, -ing 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The decline appears to have stalled, with job growth picking up again and both worker and business sentiment improving at the margin.
From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026
For many Americans, especially those who live in rural communities, these arrangements are the difference between driving hours to a 340B hospital or picking up a prescription at a local pharmacy.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026
Now that he's also lost his high-profile lawsuit against OpenAI, is it possible that Musk will be less prone to picking fights?
From BBC • May 18, 2026
Ahead of the report on Wednesday, shares were picking up fresh support on Wall Street.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
Whether it’s going out to sell at farmers markets or picking up supplies, it’s always the van that’s used.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
