pick out

verb

picked out; picking out; picks out
Synonyms of pick outnext

transitive verb

1
2
: to play the notes of by ear or one by one
picking out tunes on the piano

Examples of pick out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Garrett Mitchell is another former first round pick out of UCLA. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 In IconArrows pointing outwards Visitors pick out pumpkins to purchase at The Great Pumpkin Farm. — Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026 The home was picked out for Dietrich by the filmmaker Josef von Sternberg, who directed her in several movies, including Morocco, which earned her an Oscar nod. — Juliana Ukiomogbe, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026 Trost, a third-round draft pick out of Missouri, could be activated to the roster. — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pick out

Word History

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pick out was in 1540

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pick out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pick%20out. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

pick out

verb
1
: to see or detect with some difficulty
picked out the trail in the snow
2
: to play the notes of by ear or one by one
pick out a tune

More from Merriam-Webster on pick out

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!