picked
1 Americanadjective
-
specially chosen or selected, usually for special skill.
a crew of picked men.
-
cleared or cleaned by or as if by picking.
picked fruit.
adjective
Etymology
Origin of picked1
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at pick 1, -ed 2
Origin of picked2
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at pick 2, -ed 3
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.
Crude futures picked up from Monday’s selloff following military exchanges between the U.S. and Iran, while talks kept hopes for an agreement alive.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
Right now, unemployment is low at 4.3%, layoffs are near a record low and hiring has picked up recently after a prolonged lull.
From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026
In recent years, they picked up speed after the 2000 presidential election, which was so close that it took six weeks of recounting, lawsuits and a Supreme Court decision to decide the winner.
From Salon • May 26, 2026
Kyle Hurt, who eventually picked up the win, replaced him in the seventh and immediately surrendered a home run to Tovar on the second pitch of the at-bat to pad Colorado’s lead.
From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026
Mr. Lew laid down the paper and picked up the tea.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
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.
