Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

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.

Etymology

Origin of picking

before 900; Middle English; Old English picung (once) a mark made by picking; 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.

"Historically, you've always optimised the product page so that you are picking people up at the moment they're ready to buy," says Nathan Pearson, co-founder Lumos Digital.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

That is, no picking up or walking off the green until your ball is in the hole.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Woo cleared the base paths after picking off the runner for the second out of the inning.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

Armed only with a graph of the unemployment rate, one could do a pretty good job picking out historical recessions.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

She climbed on the bus and walked up and down the aisle, picking out a seat next to some victim.

From "The Best School Year Ever" by Barbara Robinson

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.