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
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
Kansas City Star, 16 July 2025
Benintendi beat a pickoff attempt while stealing third, with Sosa taking second.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2025
Daniel Popper, New York Times, 19 July 2025
Only 59 seconds into the game, Coleman picked off Romo at the Cowboys 36.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pickoff
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Noun
In the seventh inning, Garcia walked and stole second base — then advanced to third when an errant pickoff attempt sailed into center.
—Kansas City Star, 16 July 2025
Benintendi beat a pickoff attempt while stealing third, with Sosa taking second.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2025
Verb
Mickens recognized the play fake and retreated before picking off the throw.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 19 July 2025
Only 59 seconds into the game, Coleman picked off Romo at the Cowboys 36.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pickoff
Cite this Entry
“Pickoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pickoff. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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