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pick

/pɪk/

When used as a verb meaning 'to choose,' it is often interchangeable with 'select,' though 'pick' is more common in everyday conversation. Be careful when using 'pick' to describe removing something from a surface; if you say someone is 'picking at' their food, it means they are eating very slowly or without appetite. As a noun referring to a choice, 'pick' is usually singular (e.g., 'my first pick'), but can be plural when discussing multiple selections.

💬Casual Conversation

🎬Tuesday afternoon in the office breakroom, David is staring at a row of new monitors.
David Smith

Hey Brian, can I just pick whichever monitor I want for my desk?

David Smith
Brian
Brian

Hard pass. IT assigns them based on specs, so just sit tight.

💡
David is attempting to exercise his managerial authority over equipment, while Brian shuts him down using the slang 'hard pass' (a firm refusal) and the phrasal verb 'sit tight' (to wait patiently).

Meanings

verb (transitive)

To choose or select from a group of people or things.

"Please pick a card from the deck."

verb (transitive)

To detach and remove a flower, fruit, or leaf from a plant.

"The children spent the afternoon picking wild strawberries."

verb (transitive)

To remove something from a surface using your fingers or a tool.

"He tried to pick the lint off his blazer."

verb (intransitive)

To move or act with caution and deliberation, often to avoid danger.

"The hikers had to pick their way carefully through the rocky terrain."

noun

A choice of something; the person or thing selected as the best.

"Of all the candidates, she was the committee's first pick."

noun

A sharp-pointed tool used for breaking hard surfaces or mining.

"The miner swung his pick into the wall of ore."

Last Updated: May 22, 2026Report an Error