pickoff

1 of 2

noun

pick·​off ˈpik-ˌȯf 

: a baseball play in which a base runner is picked off

pick off

2 of 2

verb

picked off; picking off; picks off

transitive verb

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

Verb

• block
• intercept
• interdict

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

Noun

Just things started speeding up and didn’t even see the clock there or even the pickoff at second base. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 5 July 2024

Recent rule changes have aided Ohtani in his 50/50 quest, regarding steals in particular, including larger bases and limiting the pitcher to three pickoff throws to first base. —Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 19 Sep. 2024

Verb

At one point, a juvenile Cooper's Hawk flies up to perch on the chimney, aiming to pick off a meal from the flock. —Deena Prichep, NPR, 14 Sep. 2024

Minnesota picked off struggling Giants quarterback Daniel Jones in last week’s win. —Vincent Frank, Forbes, 14 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1911, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pick off

verb

1

: to shoot or bring down one by one or with a single shot

2

: to put out (a base runner who is off base) with a quick throw