"pick up on" meaning in All languages combined

See pick up on on Wiktionary

Verb [English]

Audio: En-au-pick up on.ogg [Australia] Forms: picks up on [present, singular, third-person], picking up on [participle, present], picked up on [participle, past], picked up on [past]
Head templates: {{en-verb|*}} pick up on (third-person singular simple present picks up on, present participle picking up on, simple past and past participle picked up on)
  1. (transitive, idiomatic) To notice, observe, learn, or understand, especially something otherwise overlooked. Tags: idiomatic, transitive Synonyms (notice): grasp, spot
    Sense id: en-pick_up_on-en-verb-xsK1AshT Disambiguation of 'notice': 88 8 4
  2. (transitive, idiomatic) To continue or build upon (for example, a task, analysis, or narrative), beginning from a point at which someone has previously stopped. Tags: idiomatic, transitive Synonyms (continue): resume
    Sense id: en-pick_up_on-en-verb-QTVXsDgU Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English phrasal verbs with particle (on), English phrasal verbs with particle (up) Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 3 72 25 Disambiguation of English phrasal verbs with particle (on): 11 66 23 Disambiguation of English phrasal verbs with particle (up): 11 66 23 Disambiguation of 'continue': 5 91 4
  3. (transitive, idiomatic) To adopt a practice in which others already engage. Tags: idiomatic, transitive Synonyms (adopt a practice of others): imitate
    Sense id: en-pick_up_on-en-verb-cWkq1NCP Disambiguation of 'adopt a practice of others': 6 11 83

Inflected forms

Download JSON data for pick up on meaning in All languages combined (5.1kB)

{
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "picks up on",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "picking up on",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "picked up on",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "picked up on",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "*"
      },
      "expansion": "pick up on (third-person singular simple present picks up on, present participle picking up on, simple past and past participle picked up on)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1882, Charlotte M. Yonge, chapter 18, in Magnum Bonum; or, Mother Carey's Brood",
          "text": "Remember, I know more about it than only what you picked up on that morning.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1980, Norman Spinrad, The Mind Game, page 22",
          "text": "No wonder I didn't pick up on what was happening.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1999 December 12, Andrew Goldstein, “The Victims: Never Again”, in Time",
          "text": "Why didn't the police or the school pick up on the killers' warning signs?",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2011 Allen Gregory, \"Pilot\" (season 1, episode 1)",
          "text": "Patrick: Well, maybe you're just too smart for everybody.\nAllen Gregory DeLongpre: Hmm, that's a good point, Pete. You pick up on stuff, don't you?\nPatrick: I don't know. It's Patrick, though.\nAllen Gregory: I don't care."
        },
        {
          "ref": "2011 May 11, Arthur S. Brisbane, “The Other Torture Debate”, in New York Times, retrieved 2011-05-24",
          "text": "Readers and bloggers alertly picked up on the nuances of language, and what some called the inconsistencies.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2023 August 23, “Network News: RAIB cites driver fatigue as factor in 28mph collision”, in RAIL, number 990, page 13",
          "text": "Making recommendations to GBRf to improve its fatigue management, RAIB notes that GBRf missed an opportunity to pick up on the driver's potential fatigue.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To notice, observe, learn, or understand, especially something otherwise overlooked."
      ],
      "id": "en-pick_up_on-en-verb-xsK1AshT",
      "links": [
        [
          "notice",
          "notice"
        ],
        [
          "observe",
          "observe"
        ],
        [
          "learn",
          "learn"
        ],
        [
          "understand",
          "understand"
        ],
        [
          "overlook",
          "overlook"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, idiomatic) To notice, observe, learn, or understand, especially something otherwise overlooked."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "88 8 4",
          "sense": "notice",
          "word": "grasp"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 8 4",
          "sense": "notice",
          "word": "spot"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic",
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "3 72 25",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "11 66 23",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English phrasal verbs with particle (on)",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "11 66 23",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English phrasal verbs with particle (up)",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2009 October 31, Neil Harman, “Caroline Wozniacki reaches semi-finals”, in Times Online, UK, retrieved 2011-05-24",
          "text": "Andy Murray has landed in Valencia for next week’s ATP tournament to pick up on his interrupted year, six weeks after the Davis Cup tie against Poland when he played three times in successive days and exacerbated the damage to his left wrist.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To continue or build upon (for example, a task, analysis, or narrative), beginning from a point at which someone has previously stopped."
      ],
      "id": "en-pick_up_on-en-verb-QTVXsDgU",
      "links": [
        [
          "continue",
          "continue"
        ],
        [
          "build upon",
          "build upon"
        ],
        [
          "stop",
          "stop"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, idiomatic) To continue or build upon (for example, a task, analysis, or narrative), beginning from a point at which someone has previously stopped."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "5 91 4",
          "sense": "continue",
          "word": "resume"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic",
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2004 September 16, Patrick Saunders, “Eye on the Jaguars”, in Denver Post, page D10",
          "text": "\"What you've got to do is, you've got to study the guy and try to pick up on his techniques, try to pick up what he's real good at.\"",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2010 June 30, Justin Bergman, “China's TV Dating Shows: For Love or Money?”, in Time",
          "text": "China was slow to pick up on the reality-TV trend.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To adopt a practice in which others already engage."
      ],
      "id": "en-pick_up_on-en-verb-cWkq1NCP",
      "links": [
        [
          "adopt",
          "adopt"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, idiomatic) To adopt a practice in which others already engage."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "6 11 83",
          "sense": "adopt a practice of others",
          "word": "imitate"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic",
        "transitive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "audio": "En-au-pick up on.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/39/En-au-pick_up_on.ogg/En-au-pick_up_on.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/En-au-pick_up_on.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Australia"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (AU)"
    }
  ],
  "word": "pick up on"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English phrasal verbs",
    "English phrasal verbs with particle (on)",
    "English phrasal verbs with particle (up)",
    "English terms with audio links",
    "English verbs"
  ],
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "picks up on",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "picking up on",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "picked up on",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "picked up on",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "*"
      },
      "expansion": "pick up on (third-person singular simple present picks up on, present participle picking up on, simple past and past participle picked up on)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English idioms",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English transitive verbs",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1882, Charlotte M. Yonge, chapter 18, in Magnum Bonum; or, Mother Carey's Brood",
          "text": "Remember, I know more about it than only what you picked up on that morning.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1980, Norman Spinrad, The Mind Game, page 22",
          "text": "No wonder I didn't pick up on what was happening.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1999 December 12, Andrew Goldstein, “The Victims: Never Again”, in Time",
          "text": "Why didn't the police or the school pick up on the killers' warning signs?",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2011 Allen Gregory, \"Pilot\" (season 1, episode 1)",
          "text": "Patrick: Well, maybe you're just too smart for everybody.\nAllen Gregory DeLongpre: Hmm, that's a good point, Pete. You pick up on stuff, don't you?\nPatrick: I don't know. It's Patrick, though.\nAllen Gregory: I don't care."
        },
        {
          "ref": "2011 May 11, Arthur S. Brisbane, “The Other Torture Debate”, in New York Times, retrieved 2011-05-24",
          "text": "Readers and bloggers alertly picked up on the nuances of language, and what some called the inconsistencies.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2023 August 23, “Network News: RAIB cites driver fatigue as factor in 28mph collision”, in RAIL, number 990, page 13",
          "text": "Making recommendations to GBRf to improve its fatigue management, RAIB notes that GBRf missed an opportunity to pick up on the driver's potential fatigue.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To notice, observe, learn, or understand, especially something otherwise overlooked."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "notice",
          "notice"
        ],
        [
          "observe",
          "observe"
        ],
        [
          "learn",
          "learn"
        ],
        [
          "understand",
          "understand"
        ],
        [
          "overlook",
          "overlook"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, idiomatic) To notice, observe, learn, or understand, especially something otherwise overlooked."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic",
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English idioms",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2009 October 31, Neil Harman, “Caroline Wozniacki reaches semi-finals”, in Times Online, UK, retrieved 2011-05-24",
          "text": "Andy Murray has landed in Valencia for next week’s ATP tournament to pick up on his interrupted year, six weeks after the Davis Cup tie against Poland when he played three times in successive days and exacerbated the damage to his left wrist.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To continue or build upon (for example, a task, analysis, or narrative), beginning from a point at which someone has previously stopped."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "continue",
          "continue"
        ],
        [
          "build upon",
          "build upon"
        ],
        [
          "stop",
          "stop"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, idiomatic) To continue or build upon (for example, a task, analysis, or narrative), beginning from a point at which someone has previously stopped."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic",
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English idioms",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2004 September 16, Patrick Saunders, “Eye on the Jaguars”, in Denver Post, page D10",
          "text": "\"What you've got to do is, you've got to study the guy and try to pick up on his techniques, try to pick up what he's real good at.\"",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2010 June 30, Justin Bergman, “China's TV Dating Shows: For Love or Money?”, in Time",
          "text": "China was slow to pick up on the reality-TV trend.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To adopt a practice in which others already engage."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "adopt",
          "adopt"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, idiomatic) To adopt a practice in which others already engage."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic",
        "transitive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "audio": "En-au-pick up on.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/39/En-au-pick_up_on.ogg/En-au-pick_up_on.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/En-au-pick_up_on.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Australia"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (AU)"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "sense": "notice",
      "word": "grasp"
    },
    {
      "sense": "notice",
      "word": "spot"
    },
    {
      "sense": "continue",
      "word": "resume"
    },
    {
      "sense": "adopt a practice of others",
      "word": "imitate"
    }
  ],
  "word": "pick up on"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable All languages combined dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-05-03 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-05-02 using wiktextract (f4fd8c9 and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.