picking out

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive

   Choosing or selecting someone or something from a group.

   Grammar: Takes an object: 'picking out a shirt'. The object can go between 'picking' and 'out' or after 'out'.

   Patterns

   • picking out something
   • picking something out

   She is picking out a birthday present for her sister.

   We spent the morning picking out tiles for the kitchen.

2. 2verbtransitive

   Seeing or recognizing something with difficulty among other things.

   Grammar: Often used with 'can' or 'could': 'I could just pick out the letters'.

   Patterns

   • picking out something
   • picking something out

   I could barely pick out the words on the sign in the fog.

   He is picking out familiar faces in the crowd.

Common combinations

pick out a gift

They are picking out a gift for their teacher.

pick out details

The photo is too dark to pick out details.

pick out a tune

She sat at the piano, picking out a simple tune.

Synonyms and how they differ

choose

More general and does not need 'out'; 'pick out' often suggests a careful search among many.

select

More formal; 'pick out' is more common in everyday speech.

Word family

pick verb

To choose or take something with your fingers.

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “picking out”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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