How do you use "Picking up" in a sentence?

She's been ill but she's picking up now. Business is finally picking up. I felt awful yesterday but I'm picking up today.

Picking up

Q: What does "Picking up" mean?

Recovering; starting to improve. Beginning to get better from illness or a low point. Suggests the start of improvement.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Casual

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Meaning: Recovering; starting to improve.

正在恢复、开始好转。

Recuperándose; empezando a mejorar.

回復中、良くなり始めている。

회복 중인, 나아지기 시작하는.

Beginning to get better from illness or a low point. Suggests the start of improvement.

开始从疾病或低谷中恢复。表示好转的开始。

Empezando a mejorar de una enfermedad o punto bajo. Sugiere el inicio de la mejora.

病気や落ち込みから良くなり始めている。改善の始まりを示す。

병이나 저조한 상태에서 나아지기 시작하는 것. 호전의 시작을 암시한다.

Literal meaning: Lifting oneself up

Examples

She's been ill but she's picking up now.
她一直生病，但现在在好转
Ha estado enferma pero ya está mejorando
病気だったけど、今は回復してきている
아팠는데 지금은 회복되고 있어.
Business is finally picking up.
生意终于开始好转了
El negocio por fin está mejorando
やっとビジネスが上向いてきた
사업이 드디어 나아지고 있어.
I felt awful yesterday but I'm picking up today.
昨天感觉很糟，但今天好多了
Ayer me sentía fatal pero hoy estoy mejor
昨日はひどかったけど、今日は良くなってきた
어제는 끔찍했는데 오늘은 좋아지고 있어.

Pronunciation

/ˈpɪkɪŋ ʌp/

Usage Guide

Context: recovery, improvement, getting better

Tone: hopeful, encouraging

✓ Do Say

I'm picking up.
我在好转
Estoy mejorando
良くなってきた
나 회복되고 있어.
She's picking up nicely.
她恢复得很好
Está mejorando bien
順調に回復している
그녀는 잘 회복되고 있어.
Starting to pick up.
开始好转了
Empezando a mejorar
回復し始めた
나아지기 시작하고 있어.

✗ Don't Say

Improving
Improving（太正式）
Improving（demasiado formal）
Improving（フォーマルすぎる）
호전되고 있는
Getting better
Getting better（太普通）
Getting better（demasiado común）
Getting better（平凡すぎる）
나아지고 있는

Common Mistakes

Very versatile—applies to health, business, spirits
Implies early stages of improvement

Origin & History

From picking yourself up after being down.

Etymology: English idiom

First recorded: Traditional

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Everyday expression; Common usage

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking world.

Variations

Picking upPicking up nowStarting to pick up