pick out

verb

picked out; picking out; picks out

transitive verb

1

: discern, make out

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

In a group photograph Kean shared from those days, Machchhar is easy to pick out. — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

Weekends often involve streaming a science-fiction or action movie my partner picked out. — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 30 Sep. 2026

The report picks out local film as the clearest opportunity for growth in the region. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026

Simmons, a former first-round pick out of Clemson and a special teams ace, has been elevated from the practice squad to the game day roster the first two weeks of the 2026 season and has played in both games for Carolina (1-1). — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pick out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

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