picked off; picking off; picks off
1
: to shoot or bring down especially one by one
2
: to put out (a base runner who is off base) with a quick throw (as from the pitcher or catcher)
3
: intercept
picked off a pass
Synonyms
Examples of pickoff in a Sentence
Noun
He made a pickoff throw to third base.
Verb
picked off more passes than any other player in the division
Recent Examples on the Web
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 8 July 2024
The Rays’ one run off Gil came in the third inning when the starter airmailed a pickoff throw to second base, which sent José Caballero to third.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2024
Kylie Volavongsa, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2024
Lowenstein says pesticides like insecticidal soap or Neem oil can be used to kill sawfly larvae, or they can be easily picked off the plants directly and thrown into a bucket of soapy water.
—Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 21 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for pickoff 
Noun
Speedy shortstop Elly De La Cruz, also a first-time All-Star, doubled home Will Benson and took third when Kinley’s pickoff attempt sailed into center field.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 8 July 2024
The Rays’ one run off Gil came in the third inning when the starter airmailed a pickoff throw to second base, which sent José Caballero to third.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2024
Verb
The Dash was either picked off by Current field players or lobbed shots off target.
—Kylie Volavongsa, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2024
Lowenstein says pesticides like insecticidal soap or Neem oil can be used to kill sawfly larvae, or they can be easily picked off the plants directly and thrown into a bucket of soapy water.
—Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 21 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for pickoff
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pickoff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Pickoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pickoff. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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