pic·nic
ˈpik-(ˌ)nik 
often attributive
1
: an excursion or outing with food usually provided by members of the group and eaten in the open
also
: the food provided for a picnic
2
a
: a pleasant or amusingly carefree experience
I don't expect being married to be a picnic—
Josephine Pinckney
Josephine Pinckney
b
: an easy task or feat
3
: a shoulder of pork with much of the butt removed
picnicked; picnicking
: to go on a picnic : eat in picnic fashion
picnicker
noun
Synonyms
Examples of picnic in a Sentence
Noun
We decided to have a picnic on the beach.
We ate our picnic by the lake.
The annual school picnic is this weekend.
This winter is a picnic compared with last year's.
Verb
We picnicked in the park.
Recent Examples on the WebKory Grow, Rolling Stone, 5 July 2024
Read more Photo of the day: Independence Day 2024
The Fourth of July featured the parades, picnics, cookouts, hot dogs and fireworks that Americas know and love.
—Jane Onyanga-Omara, USA TODAY, 5 July 2024
Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 3 July 2024
The claim: Image shows all white people picnicking at Black church where Trump spoke
A June 17 Threads post (direct link, archive link) shows a group of people, all of whom appear to be white, gathered around a table for an outdoor meal.
—Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for picnic 
Noun
The concert marked the first time in 14 years that Nelson has held his Independence Day picnic outside of the Lone Star State.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 5 July 2024
Read more Photo of the day: Independence Day 2024
The Fourth of July featured the parades, picnics, cookouts, hot dogs and fireworks that Americas know and love.
—Jane Onyanga-Omara, USA TODAY, 5 July 2024
Verb
Bring it with you on the go while picnicking (perhaps, on this floral fleece blanket) working out, or sunbathing.
—Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 3 July 2024
The claim: Image shows all white people picnicking at Black church where Trump spoke
A June 17 Threads post (direct link, archive link) shows a group of people, all of whom appear to be white, gathered around a table for an outdoor meal.
—Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for picnic
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'picnic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near picnic
Cite this Entry
“Picnic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/picnic. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
picnic
1 of 2 noun
pic·nic
ˈpik-(ˌ)nik
1
: a meal eaten outdoors often during a trip away from home
2
a
: a pleasant or carefree experience
breaking a leg is no picnic
b
: an easy task
3
: a shoulder of pork that is often smoked and boned
picnicky
adjective
picnic
2 of 2 verb
picnicked; picnicking
: to go on a picnic : eat as if on a picnic
picnicker
noun
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