pickup
PIK-up
/ˈpɪkˌʌp/
The act or designated place of collecting a passenger or cargo.
Refers specifically to the exact location or moment of starting a ride passenger pick-up.
The story behind the word. Formed in American English by combining the verb 'pick' with preposition 'up'. By the mid-20th century, it was nouned to describe picking up passengers, goods, or informal sports games.
Word relationships
- collection: 'Collection' is formal and commonly used for goods, parcels, or waste rather than passengers.
- rendezvous: 'Rendezvous' implies a pre-arranged meeting place between people, not necessarily involving vehicles.
- drop-off: 'Drop-off' is the destination or place where passengers exit the vehicle.
Commonly confused with
- pick up: 'Pick up' (two words) is the verb action; 'pickup' (one word) is the noun or adjective.
Word family
- pick up (phrasal verb): To collect someone in a vehicle.
Collocations
- pickup location
- pickup zone
- curbside pickup
- pickup time
- scheduled pickup
Idioms & expressions
- quick pickup
Example sentences
- "The driver waited at the designated airport passenger pickup zone." Rideshare instructions
- "Our pickup time is set for precisely seven in the morning." Daily logistics
Memory hook
PICK UP your luggage at the PICKUP location. Where your ride starts.
When not to use
As a noun or adjective, write as one word ('pickup') or hyphenated ('pick-up'); avoid writing as two words ('pick up') unless using it as a verb phrase.
Fun facts
- Major airports use geo-fencing technology to direct rideshare drivers into specific virtual pickup zones to prevent terminal traffic congestion.
Related words
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