How is picking used in a sentence?

She was picking fresh berries in the field for breakfast. | The committee is still picking a new leader from the list of candidates. | He couldn't stop picking at the loose thread on his sweater.

What are the synonyms for picking?

Synonyms for picking: selecting, choosing, gathering, harvesting, plucking, removing

What are the antonyms for picking?

Antonyms for picking: rejecting, discarding, planting, ignoring

Definition of"picking" in English

Q: What are some common phrases with picking?

Common phrases: picking up the pieces, picking on someone, picking a fight, picking and choosing, picking through

Definition Language:

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picking

/ˈpɪkɪŋ/

Verb

Definitions

Verb

The present participle of 'pick', referring to the action of choosing or selecting something from a group or range of possibilities.

🟢Beginner

Verb

The present participle of 'pick', referring to the action of gathering or harvesting fruits, vegetables, or flowers from a plant or tree.

🟢Beginner

Verb

The present participle of 'pick', referring to the action of removing small pieces or items from a surface or larger object, often meticulously or repeatedly.

🟡Intermediate

Verb

The present participle of 'pick', referring to the action of provoking or initiating a quarrel, argument, or fight with someone.

🟡Intermediate

Noun

The process or an instance of choosing or selecting.

🟢Beginner

Noun

The quantity of something that has been gathered or harvested (e.g., 'a good picking of berries').

🟡Intermediate

Examples

"She was picking fresh berries in the field for breakfast."
She was picking fresh berries in the field for breakfast.
"The committee is still picking a new leader from the list of candidates."
The committee is still picking a new leader from the list of candidates.
"He couldn't stop picking at the loose thread on his sweater."
He couldn't stop picking at the loose thread on his sweater.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Etymology

Derived from the Old English word 'pician', meaning 'to prick' or 'to pierce', which later evolved to include senses of selecting, gathering, and removing items with a pointed tool or by hand.

Cultural Notes

The word 'picking' is highly versatile in English and appears in many common idioms and phrasal verbs, reflecting its core meanings of selection, removal, or initiation. For instance, 'picking up the pieces' refers to recovering after a difficult event, while 'picking on someone' implies bullying or teasing. These uses are integral to everyday English communication.

Common Phrases

•picking up the pieces

•picking on someone

•picking a fight

•picking and choosing

•picking through

Word Forms

Verb Forms

Infinitiveto pick

Past Tensepicked

Past Participlepicked

3rd Person Singularpicks

Noun Forms

Singularpick

Pluralpicks

Frequency:Very Common

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