Pickup
/ˈpɪkʌp/
Definitions
5 meaningsTo lift or collect something; to retrieve.
/ˈpɪkʌp/
To lift or take something up.
I will pick up the laundry later.
💡 Simply: Imagine you drop your keys. To 'pickup' means to bend down and grab them! You're collecting or getting something from where it fell.
👶 For kids: To lift something from the ground.
More Examples
She picked up the phone to answer the call.
The students picked up their books at the end of the class.
How It's Used
"Can you pickup the groceries on your way home?"
"He picked up the ball and threw it."
To collect someone in a vehicle and give them a ride.
/ˈpɪkʌp/
To give someone a ride in a vehicle.
I will pick you up from the train station.
💡 Simply: When you need a ride, like from the airport, someone will 'pick you up.' It means they are getting you with their car.
👶 For kids: To take someone in a car.
More Examples
She offered to pick him up after the concert.
The bus picks up passengers at every stop.
How It's Used
"Can you pick me up from the airport?"
The act or instance of picking something or someone up.
/ˈpɪkʌp/
The act of collecting someone or something.
The pickup from the airport will be at 5 PM.
💡 Simply: The 'pickup' is the time or event when you actually grab something or someone. Like the time you get your pizza!
👶 For kids: When you get something or someone.
More Examples
The company scheduled a pickup for the merchandise.
I'll arrange for the pickup of the dry cleaning tomorrow.
How It's Used
"The pickup of the new shipment was delayed."
A light truck with an open cargo area.
/ˈpɪkʌp/
A small truck with an open cargo bed.
The farmer uses a pickup to transport his crops.
💡 Simply: A 'pickup' is a type of truck with an open space in the back for carrying things.
👶 For kids: A car with an open back to carry stuff.
More Examples
He bought a new pickup to haul materials.
The dealership has a range of pickup trucks available.
How It's Used
"He drives a pickup for his business."
"The factory produces pickups."
An improvement or increase, especially in speed, activity, or intensity.
/ˈpɪkʌp/
An improvement or increase, often in performance or activity
The company experienced a sales pickup during the holiday season.
💡 Simply: A 'pickup' is when something gets better, faster, or more active, like when your favorite song comes on and you feel excited!
👶 For kids: When something gets better or more active.
More Examples
There was a noticeable pickup in activity at the construction site.
The engine had a good pickup, accelerating quickly.
How It's Used
"The team needs a pickup in their energy levels."
"There's a significant pickup in sales this quarter."
Synonyms
Collect
Gather
Lift
Obtain
Fetch
Collection
Gathering
Boost
Improvement
Increase
Idioms & expressions
pick up the slack
To take over or do the work that someone else is not doing or is not doing well enough.
"After the layoffs, the remaining employees had to pick up the slack."
pickup artist
Someone skilled at attracting and seducing potential romantic partners.
"He considers himself a pickup artist."
From the verb phrase 'pick up,' which originated in the 16th century meaning 'to lift or take up.' The noun usage evolved, first describing the act of picking something up and later, specialized uses like the vehicle.
The usage of 'pickup' as a vehicle term became common in the 20th century, initially used for farm and industrial transport.
Memory tip
Think of a claw machine picking up a stuffed animal.