picked

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "picked" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used as a verb meaning to choose or select, as in "He picked the best apple from the bunch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And before that it is planted, picked, and ginned (or cleaned).

The Guardian - Opinion

They had little else in common over the course of the match with a Hearts side who did them such severe harm as they picked up the trophy they also secured in 2006.

The Guardian - Sport

It would appear that the paper picked up the Mail Online story and, against normal internal rules, did not attribute it to Mail Online.

The Guardian

Bartmes, another Chicago attorney, said that in September 2013 she got a call from a mother worried that her 15-year-old son had been picked up by police before dawn.

The Guardian

The five cases already opened against individuals as a result of Garcia's investigation will presumably be picked up by an acting chairman who will be appointed by the executive committee at Thursday's meeting, most likely his deputy Cornel Borbély.

The Guardian - Sport

Some outside observers picked up on this peculiar form of pride – a kind of anti-nationalist nationalism – and gently mocked it: Timothy Garton Ash, for instance, spoke of Deutsche Industrie-Normen – a German industrial standard – in "coming to terms with the past"; others crowned the Germans "world champions in remembrance".

The Guardian - Opinion

Salar Faez, the Iraqi Yazidi, sees little future for himself in Bulgaria, where he was picked up.

The Guardian

Such is the swagger and confidence coursing through Chelsea's squad that José Mourinho swatted aside any concerns over an injury picked up by Loïc Rémy during this Stamford Bridge breeze.

The Guardian - Sport

AVB speaks: "We've been using this competition with the strong players," he says, in English that's a lot better than my Portuguese, upon being asked why he's picked such a strong team.

The Guardian - Sport

The 29-year-old picked up the what has been revealed to be a small tear in his side's 1-0 win over the USA on Thursday.

The Guardian - Sport

He doesn't consider that the woman about to get married might have picked up quite a bit of "luggage" that she is fond of, and proud of, already.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "picked" to describe cotton harvesting, provide context: "The cotton was picked in late summer."

Common error

Avoid using "picked" when the passive voice is more appropriate to emphasize the object or action rather than the selector. Instead of "The team picked him", consider "He was picked for the team" to highlight his selection.

Linguistic Context

The word "picked" primarily functions as the past tense and past participle of the verb "pick". Ludwig confirms its validity and usability, noting its role in expressing past actions of choosing, selecting, or gathering.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Sport

20%

Opinion

15%

Less common in

Lifestyle

10%

Film

10%

Books

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The analysis confirms that "picked" is a versatile and frequently used verb form. Serving primarily as the past tense and past participle of "pick", its neutral register and wide distribution across contexts like News & Media, Sport, and Opinion underscore its general applicability. Ludwig provides numerous examples that highlight the diverse communicative purposes, from conveying simple selections to expressing more complex past actions. Best practices encourage providing clear context and avoiding passive voice misuse. This suggests "picked" is a reliable and valuable term in English vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

selected

Indicates a deliberate choice from a set of options, similar to "picked" but often implies a more formal process.

chose

Simple past tense of 'choose', offering a direct synonym for "picked" in many contexts.

opted for

Implies a decision made after considering alternatives, slightly more formal than "picked".

went with

Suggests a decision or selection, often implying a simpler or more casual choice.

acquired

Indicates gaining possession of something, which overlaps with the 'picked up' sense of "picked".

obtained

Similar to 'acquired', suggesting a more formal or deliberate process of gaining something.

took

A general term for getting hold of something, which can substitute "picked" in some contexts.

gathered

Implies collecting or assembling items, similar to "picked" in contexts like harvesting.

harvested

Specifically refers to collecting crops, aligning with the agricultural sense of "picked".

plucked

Implies removing something with a quick, sharp movement, like "picked" in the context of flowers or fruit.

FAQs

How can I use "picked" in a sentence?

You can use "picked" to indicate choosing something, as in "She "picked a flower"", or to describe a past action of selecting or gathering.

What are some alternatives to using "picked"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "selected", "chose", or "opted for".

Is it correct to say "I picked it myself"?

Yes, "I "picked it myself"" is grammatically correct and emphasizes that you personally made the selection.

What's the difference between "picked" and "chosen"?

"Picked" generally implies a simpler, more immediate selection, while "chosen" often suggests a more careful or deliberate decision. For example, "She "picked a dress"" suggests a quick decision, whereas "She was "chosen for the role"" indicates a more formal selection process.