pick out

Meaning

This phrasal verb means to choose or select someone or something from a group. It can also mean to recognize or identify someone or something in a crowd or a list.

Examples

• Can you help me pick out a dress for the wedding?

  Can you help me pick out a dress for the wedding?

• She picked out the best apples from the basket.

  She picked out the best apples from the basket.

• I need to pick out a gift for my mother's birthday.

  I need to pick out a gift for my mother's birthday.

• The witness was able to pick out the suspect from the lineup.

  The witness was able to pick out the suspect from the lineup.

• We spent hours trying to pick out a paint color for the living room.

  We spent hours trying to pick out a paint color for the living room.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to pick out of a book.

  ✓ I need to pick out a book.

  Do not use 'of' after 'pick out' when selecting an item directly.

• ✗ She picked up a beautiful dress for the party.

  ✓ She picked out a beautiful dress for the party.

  'Pick up' means to physically lift or buy something quickly, while 'pick out' means to carefully choose or select.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I need to ___ a tie that matches this blue shirt.

  💡 Choose or select.

  Show answer

  pick out

• It was hard to ___ my friend in the crowded stadium.

  💡 Identify or recognize.

  Show answer

  pick out