Pickup: meaning, definitions and examples

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pickup

 

[ ˈpɪkʌp ]

Noun / Verb
Vehicles
Context #1 | Noun

in dating

A casual romantic or sexual encounter without a commitment.

Synonyms

casual encounter, fling, hookup

Examples of usage

  • She's just looking for a pickup, nothing serious.
  • Their relationship was just a pickup, not a long-term commitment.
Context #2 | Noun

in transportation

A small truck with an enclosed cab and open back used for transporting goods or materials.

Synonyms

lorry, truck, van

Examples of usage

  • The construction company used pickups to transport equipment to the site.
  • He drove a pickup truck to deliver the furniture.
Context #3 | Verb

informal

To collect or gather something, especially a person, by stopping briefly.

Synonyms

collect, fetch, gather

Examples of usage

  • I'll pickup the kids from school later.
  • Can you pickup some groceries on your way home?

Translations

Translations of the word "pickup" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pegar

🇮🇳 उठाना

🇩🇪 abholen

🇮🇩 mengambil

🇺🇦 підбирати

🇵🇱 odbierać

🇯🇵 拾う (ひろう)

🇫🇷 ramasser

🇪🇸 recoger

🇹🇷 almak

🇰🇷 집다

🇸🇦 التقاط

🇨🇿 vyzvednout

🇸🇰 vyzdvihnúť

🇨🇳 捡起 (jiǎn qǐ)

🇸🇮 pobrati

🇮🇸 sækja

🇰🇿 көтеру

🇬🇪 ამოღება

🇦🇿 götürmək

🇲🇽 recoger

Etymology

The word 'pickup' originated in the early 20th century in the context of transportation, referring to a vehicle used for picking up goods. Over time, it evolved to also include the informal romantic or sexual encounter meaning, popularized in modern dating culture. The verb form 'pickup' has been in use since the mid-20th century, reflecting the action of collecting or gathering something or someone. The word has become a versatile term used in various contexts, from transportation to relationships.

See also: pick, picked, picker, pickiness, picking, pickle, picky.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,052, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.