# pickup /ˈpɪˌkəp/ (US) · /pˈɪkʌp/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pickup Updated: 2026-06-20 ## Senses ### 1. collecting someone or something noun · CEFR B1 the act of going to a place to get a person or an item, often in a car. For teachers: the act of collecting and taking away a person or object, typically involving a pre-arranged vehicular transport. - The school sent an email to parents about the new afternoon pickup rules. - The courier confirmed a scheduled pickup for the legal documents, ensuring they would reach the head office before the close of business. ### 2. a type of truck noun · CEFR B1 · American English a small truck with an open back for carrying goods. For teachers: a light truck with an enclosed cab and an open-topped rear cargo area. - He loaded the wooden planks into the back of his pickup. - The farmer preferred a rugged pickup for navigating the muddy tracks between the lower pastures and the main barn. ### 3. an informal game noun · CEFR B2 · Informal a sports game that is not planned in advance, played by whoever is there. For teachers: an impromptu or ad hoc sporting event, typically involving players who have not previously practiced together as a formal team. - We headed to the park for a quick pickup game of basketball. - Local enthusiasts often organize pickup soccer matches on Saturday mornings, welcoming anyone who happens to be at the community center. ### 4. acceleration noun · CEFR B2 the ability of a car or engine to increase its speed quickly. For teachers: the capacity of a motor vehicle or engine for rapid acceleration from a stationary or slow-moving state. - The new electric car has amazing pickup when you press the pedal. - While the sedan offered a smooth ride, it lacked the pickup necessary for confident overtaking on steep mountain inclines. ### 5. electronic sensor noun · CEFR C1 · Technical a small device on a guitar or record player that turns sound or movement into electricity. For teachers: a transducer that captures mechanical vibrations, such as those from guitar strings, and converts them into electrical signals for amplification. - He replaced the pickups on his electric guitar to get a warmer sound. - The technician identified a grounding issue within the bridge pickup, which was causing an audible hum whenever the amplifier was set to high gain. ### 6. extra film footage noun · CEFR C1 · Technical a small scene or shot filmed later to fix or improve a movie. For teachers: a minor shot or sequence recorded after the main production period to supplement or correct existing footage. - The director realized they needed a few pickups to clarify the ending. - After reviewing the initial edit, the producers authorized two days of pickups to capture the necessary close-ups that were missed during the location shoot. ### 7. video game item noun · CEFR B2 · Informal an item in a video game that gives your character a bonus or power. For teachers: an object within a digital game environment that provides a benefit, such as health or ammunition, when touched by the player character. - Look for the health pickup behind the red door. - The level design encourages exploration by hiding rare weapon pickups in hard-to-reach corners of the map. ### 8. social/romantic meeting noun · CEFR C1 · Informal the act of starting a conversation with a stranger to try and start a romance. For teachers: the act of engaging a stranger in flirtatious conversation with the intent of securing a date or sexual encounter. - He tried a cheesy pickup line, but she just laughed and walked away. - The bar was a well-known spot for quick pickups, though most patrons were simply there for the music and expensive cocktails. ## Examples - We are finally seeing a pickup in sales this month. - Economists noted a significant pickup in consumer spending following the recent tax cuts. - The director scheduled several pickups for the following week to ensure the transition between the dialogue scenes and the action sequence remained seamless. --- From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.