to pick out
– B2-C1 (intermediate to advanced) –
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DEFINITION
In North American English this phrasal verb typically means:
to choose something from a group of things that you would like to use
to identify something from a group of things
EXAMPLES
(1) “It always takes a long time to pick out a movie on Netflix. There are just too many options; it’s overwhelming.”
(1) “My daughter and I love going to the library to pick out books to read.”
(2) “Growing up, my mother always encouraged me to pick out the clothes that I wanted to wear the next day so that getting ready for school would take less time.”
(2) “Even though there were so many people at the festival, I was able to pick out my friend from the crowd with no problem.”
SYNONYMS
(1) to choose
(1 ) to select
(1) to opt for
(2) to identify
(2) to distinguish
(2) to spot
What kinds of things have you picked out before? Practice using this phrasal verb by letting me know in the comments below.