Choice vs. Pick — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 4, 2024
"Choice" implies an option or range of options available, focusing on the process of deciding, while "pick" often refers to the act of selecting something specific from these options.
Difference Between Choice and Pick
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Choice" generally refers to the act of selecting between two or more options, emphasizing the availability and variety of options. On the other hand, "pick" is more about the action of selecting one option from the choices presented.
In the context of decision-making, "choice" connotes a broader consideration, often involving judgment and preference. Whereas "pick" implies a simpler or more straightforward action of selection, typically without much deliberation.
"Choice" can also denote the options themselves, suggesting a wider range of possibilities. Meanwhile, "pick" focuses more narrowly on the individual selection within these possibilities.
When discussing freedom or autonomy, "choice" highlights the ability and privilege to choose among alternatives, underscoring the importance of options. Conversely, "pick" is more transactional, indicating the execution of a choice.
In usage, "choice" is often seen in more formal or abstract discussions, such as life choices or moral choices. In contrast, "pick" is commonly used in everyday, practical scenarios, like picking a color or a meal.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
The act of choosing among options
The act of selecting an option
Context of Usage
Broader decision-making
Specific action of selection
Connotation
Involves deliberation
Implies immediacy and directness
Formality
More formal and abstract
More casual and practical
Relation to Options
Can refer to the options available
Focuses on the selected option
Compare with Definitions
Choice
The freedom to choose among alternatives.
He valued his choice in the matter.
Pick
To select from a group or number.
She went to pick a flower from the garden.
Choice
An option considered in decision making.
Going to college was her preferred choice.
Pick
To decide on a choice.
He quickly picked his favorite movie.
Choice
A range of possibilities from which to choose.
The menu had a wide choice of desserts.
Pick
The act of using one's fingers to take hold.
He picked the guitar strings gently.
Choice
The act of selecting or making a decision.
Her choice reflected her values.
Pick
To identify from a range of options.
They will pick the team leader tomorrow.
Choice
A choice is the range of different things from which you can choose. The arrival at a choice may incorporate motivators and models.
Pick
The process of making a selection.
Making the right pick can be challenging.
Choice
An act of choosing between two or more possibilities
The choice between good and evil
Pick
Detach and remove (a flower, fruit, or vegetable) from where it is growing
I went to pick some flowers for Jenny's room
Choice
(especially of food) of very good quality
He picked some choice early plums
Pick
Choose (someone or something) from a number of alternatives
Maggie picked on a nice reliable chap
Maybe I picked the wrong career
He was picked for the England squad
Choice
(of words or language) rude and abusive
He had a few choice words at his command
Pick
Repeatedly pull at something with one's fingers
The old woman was picking at the sheet
Choice
The act of choosing; selection
It is time to make a choice between the candidates.
Pick
Pluck the strings of (a guitar or banjo)
People were singing and picking guitars
Choice
The power, right, or liberty to choose; option
The teacher gave me the choice between taking an exam and writing a paper.
Pick
An act or the right of selecting something from a number of alternatives
Laura should have first pick
Take your pick from our extensive menu
Choice
An alternative
With no money, he had no choice but to walk home.
Pick
An act of blocking or screening a defensive player from the ball handler.
Choice
One that is chosen
That vase on sale looks like an excellent choice.
Pick
A tool consisting of a long handle set at right angles in the middle of a curved iron or steel bar with a point at one end and a chisel edge or point at the other, used for breaking up hard ground or rock.
Choice
A number or variety from which to choose
A wide choice of styles and colors.
Pick
An instrument for picking
An ebony hair pick
Choice
The right to terminate a pregnancy by induced abortion.
Pick
To select from a group
The best swimmer was picked.
Choice
Of very fine quality
Choice peaches.
Pick
To gather in; harvest
They were picking cotton.
Choice
Selected with care; well-chosen
Choice phrases.
Pick
To gather the harvest from
Picked the field in one day.
Choice
Expressive of intense disapproval
Had some choice words for the movers who dropped her antique spinet.
Pick
To remove the outer covering of; pluck
Pick a chicken clean of feathers.
Choice
Of or relating to the USDA grade of beef with more marbling than select cuts and less marbling than prime cuts.
Pick
To tear off bit by bit
Pick meat from the bones.
Choice
An option; a decision; an opportunity to choose or select something.
Do I have a choice of what color to paint it?
Pick
To remove extraneous matter from (the teeth, for example).
Choice
(uncountable) The power to choose.
She didn't leave us much choice.
Pick
To poke and pull at (something) with the fingers.
Choice
One selection or preference; that which is chosen or decided; the outcome of a decision.
The ice cream sundae is a popular choice for dessert.
Pick
To break up, separate, or detach by means of a sharp pointed instrument.
Choice
Anything that can be chosen.
You have three choices: vanilla, strawberry or chocolate
Pick
To pierce or make (a hole) with a sharp pointed instrument.
Choice
The best or most preferable part.
Pick
To take up (food) with the beak; peck
The parrot picked its seed.
Choice
(obsolete) Care and judgement in selecting; discrimination, selectiveness.
Pick
To steal the contents of
My pocket was picked.
Choice
(obsolete) A sufficient number to choose among.
Pick
To open (a lock) without the use of a key.
Choice
(set theory) axiom of choice.
Pick
To provoke
Pick a fight.
Choice
Especially good or preferred.
It's a choice location, but you will pay more to live there.
Pick
To pluck (an instrument's strings).
Choice
(obsolete) Careful in choosing; discriminating.
Pick
To play (an instrument) by plucking its strings.
Choice
Cool; excellent.
"I'm going to the movies." —"Choice!"
Pick
To play (a tune) in this manner
Picked a melody out on the guitar.
Choice
Act of choosing; the voluntary act of selecting or separating from two or more things that which is preferred; the determination of the mind in preferring one thing to another; election.
Pick
To decide with care or forethought.
Choice
The power or opportunity of choosing; option.
Choice there is not, unless the thing which we take be so in our power that we might have refused it.
Pick
To work with a pick.
Choice
Care in selecting; judgment or skill in distinguishing what is to be preferred, and in giving a preference; discrimination.
I imagine they [the apothegms of Cæsar] were collected with judgment and choice.
Pick
To find fault or make petty criticisms; carp
He's always picking about something.
Choice
A sufficient number to choose among.
Pick
To be harvested or gathered
The ripe apples picked easily.
Choice
The thing or person chosen; that which is approved and selected in preference to others; selection.
The common wealth is sick of their own choice.
Pick
To throw (a shuttle) across a loom.
Choice
The best part; that which is preferable.
The flower and choiceOf many provinces from bound to bound.
Pick
The act of picking, especially with a sharp pointed instrument.
Choice
Worthly of being chosen or preferred; select; superior; precious; valuable.
My choicest hours of life are lost.
Pick
The act of selecting or choosing; choice
Got first pick of the desserts.
Choice
Preserving or using with care, as valuable; frugal; - used with of; as, to be choice of time, or of money.
Pick
Something selected as the most desirable; the best or choicest part
The pick of the crop.
Choice
Selected with care, and due attention to preference; deliberately chosen.
Choice word measured phrase.
Pick
The amount or quantity of a crop that is picked by hand.
Choice
The person or thing chosen or selected;
He was my pick for mayor
Pick
(Sports) An interception of a pass.
Choice
The act of choosing or selecting;
Your choice of colors was unfortunate
You can take your pick
Pick
(Basketball) A screen.
Choice
One of a number of things from which only one can be chosen;
What option did I have?
There no other alternative
My only choice is to refuse
Pick
A tool for breaking hard surfaces, consisting of a curved bar sharpened at both ends and fitted to a long handle.
Choice
Of superior grade;
Choice wines
Prime beef
Prize carnations
Quality paper
Select peaches
Pick
Something, such as an ice pick, toothpick, or picklock, used for picking.
Choice
Appealing to refined taste;
Choice wine
Pick
A long-toothed comb, usually designed for use on curly hair.
Pick
A pointed projection on the front of the blade of a figure skate.
Pick
(Music) A plectrum.
Pick
A weft thread in weaving.
Pick
A passage or throw of the shuttle in a loom.
Pick
A tool used for digging; a pickaxe.
Pick
A tool for unlocking a lock without the original key; a lock pick, picklock.
Pick
A comb with long widely spaced teeth, for use with tightly curled hair.
Pick
A choice; ability to choose.
Pick
That which would be picked or chosen first; the best.
Pick
(music) A tool used for strumming the strings of a guitar; a plectrum.
Pick
An anchor.
Pick
(basketball) A screen.
Pick
(lacrosse) An offensive tactic in which a player stands so as to block a defender from reaching a teammate.
Pick
(American football) An interception.
Pick
(baseball) A good defensive play by an infielder.
Pick
(baseball) A pickoff.
Pick
A pointed hammer used for dressing millstones.
Pick
(obsolete) A pike or spike; the sharp point fixed in the center of a buckler.
Pick
A particle of ink or paper embedded in the hollow of a letter, filling up its face, and causing a spot on a printed sheet.
Pick
That which is picked in, as with a pointed pencil, to correct an unevenness in a picture.
Pick
(weaving) The blow that drives the shuttle, used in calculating the speed of a loom (in picks per minute); hence, in describing the fineness of a fabric, a weft thread.
So many picks to an inch
Pick
(AU) Pasture; feed, for animals.
Pick
To grasp and pull with the fingers or fingernails.
Don't pick at that scab.
He picked his nose.
Pick
To harvest a fruit or vegetable for consumption by removing it from the plant to which it is attached; to harvest an entire plant by removing it from the ground.
It's time to pick the tomatoes.
Pick
To pull apart or away, especially with the fingers; to pluck.
She picked flowers in the meadow.
To pick feathers from a fowl
Pick
To take up; especially, to gather from here and there; to collect; to bring together.
To pick rags
Pick
To remove something from somewhere with a pointed instrument, with the fingers, or with the teeth.
To pick the teeth; to pick a bone; to pick a goose; to pick a pocket
Pick
To decide upon, from a set of options; to select.
I'll pick the one with the nicest name.
Pick
(transitive) To seek (a fight or quarrel) where the opportunity arises.
Pick
(cricket) To recognise the type of ball being bowled by a bowler by studying the position of the hand and arm as the ball is released.
He didn't pick the googly, and was bowled.
Pick
(music) To pluck the individual strings of a musical instrument or to play such an instrument.
He picked a tune on his banjo.
Pick
To open (a lock) with a wire, lock pick, etc.
Pick
To eat slowly, sparingly, or by morsels; to nibble.
Pick
To do anything fastidiously or carefully, or by attending to small things; to select something with care.
I gingerly picked my way between the thorny shrubs.
Pick
To steal; to pilfer.
Pick
(obsolete) To throw; to pitch.
Pick
(dated) To peck at, as a bird with its beak; to strike at with anything pointed; to act upon with a pointed instrument; to pierce; to prick, as with a pin.
Pick
(ambitransitive) To separate or open by means of a sharp point or points.
To pick matted wool, cotton, oakum, etc.
Pick
(basketball) To screen.
Pick
To intercept a pass from the offense as a defensive player.
The pass was almost picked, but the tight end was able to hold on.
Pick
To throw; to pitch.
As high as I could pick my lance.
Pick
To peck at, as a bird with its beak; to strike at with anything pointed; to act upon with a pointed instrument; to pierce; to prick, as with a pin.
Pick
To separate or open by means of a sharp point or points; as, to pick matted wool, cotton, oakum, etc.
Pick
To open (a lock) as by a wire.
Pick
To pull apart or away, especially with the fingers; to pluck; to gather, as fruit from a tree, flowers from the stalk, feathers from a fowl, etc.
Pick
To remove something from with a pointed instrument, with the fingers, or with the teeth; as, to pick the teeth; to pick a bone; to pick a goose; to pick a pocket.
Did you pick Master Slender's purse?
He picks clean teeth, and, busy as he seemsWith an old tavern quill, is hungry yet.
Pick
To choose; to select; to separate as choice or desirable; to cull; as, to pick one's company; to pick one's way; - often with out.
Pick
To take up; esp., to gather from here and there; to collect; to bring together; as, to pick rags; - often with up; as, to pick up a ball or stones; to pick up information.
Pick
To trim.
Pick
To eat slowly, sparingly, or by morsels; to nibble.
Why stand'st thou picking? Is thy palate sore?
Pick
To do anything nicely or carefully, or by attending to small things; to select something with care.
Pick
To steal; to pilfer.
Pick
A sharp-pointed tool for picking; - often used in composition; as, a toothpick; a picklock.
Pick
A heavy iron tool, curved and sometimes pointed at both ends, wielded by means of a wooden handle inserted in the middle, - used for digging ino the ground by quarrymen, roadmakers, etc.; also, a pointed hammer used for dressing millstones.
Pick
A pike or spike; the sharp point fixed in the center of a buckler.
Pick
Choice; right of selection; as, to have one's pick; in cat breeding, the owner of a stud gets the pick of the litter.
France and Russia have the pick of our stables.
Pick
That which would be picked or chosen first; the best; as, the pick of the flock.
Pick
A particle of ink or paper imbedded in the hollow of a letter, filling up its face, and occasioning a spot on a printed sheet.
Pick
That which is picked in, as with a pointed pencil, to correct an unevenness in a picture.
Pick
The blow which drives the shuttle, - the rate of speed of a loom being reckoned as so many picks per minute;
Pick
The person or thing chosen or selected;
He was my pick for mayor
Pick
The quantity of a crop that is harvested;
He sent the first picking of berries to the market
It was the biggest peach pick in years
Pick
The best people or things in a group;
The cream of England's young men were killed in the Great War
Pick
The yarn woven across the warp yarn in weaving
Pick
A small thin device (of metal or plastic or ivory) used to pluck a stringed instrument
Pick
A thin sharp implement used for picking;
He used a pick to clean dirt out of the cracks
Pick
A heavy iron tool with a wooden handle and a curved head that is pointed on both ends;
They used picks and sledges to break the rocks
Pick
A basketball maneuver; obstructing an opponent with one's body;
He was called for setting an illegal pick
Pick
The act of choosing or selecting;
Your choice of colors was unfortunate
You can take your pick
Pick
Select carefully from a group;
She finally picked her successor
He picked his way carefully
Pick
Look for and gather;
Pick mushrooms
Pick flowers
Pick
Harass with constant criticism;
Don't always pick on your little brother
Pick
Provoke;
Pick a fight or a quarrel
Pick
Remove in small bits;
Pick meat from a bone
Pick
Remove unwanted substances from, such as feathers or pits;
Clean the turkey
Pick
Pilfer or rob;
Pick pockets
Pick
Pay for something;
Pick up the tab
Pick up the burden of high-interest mortgages
Foot the bill
Pick
Pull lightly but sharply with a plucking motion;
He plucked the strings of his mandolin
Pick
Attack with or as if with a pickaxe of ice or rocky ground, for example;
Pick open the ice
Pick
Hit lightly with a picking motion
Pick
Eat intermittently; take small bites of;
He pieced at the sandwich all morning
She never eats a full meal--she just nibbles
Common Curiosities
Is "pick" more casual than "choice"?
Yes, "pick" is typically more casual and used in practical everyday contexts, whereas "choice" can be more formal and broad.
Can "choice" imply something negative?
While "choice" is usually neutral, it can have negative connotations in contexts where options are undesirable.
How do "choice" and "pick" relate to personal freedom?
"Choice" emphasizes personal freedom to decide among alternatives, whereas "pick" focuses on the act of executing that choice.
Can "choice" and "pick" be used interchangeably?
While they are often used interchangeably in casual conversation, "choice" and "pick" have nuances that make them suitable for different contexts; "choice" often implies a set of options and deliberation, while "pick" emphasizes the act of selection itself.
What is the main difference between choice and pick?
"Choice" refers to the options and the process of deciding, while "pick" refers specifically to the act of selecting.
Can "pick" imply a lack of options?
Yes, "pick" can sometimes imply fewer options or a more straightforward selection process, as opposed to "choice," which implies multiple alternatives.
Which is more likely to be used in a professional setting?
"Choice" is more commonly used in professional or formal settings due to its association with deliberate decision-making and a range of options.
Why might someone use "pick" instead of "choice"?
"Pick" is often used when the emphasis is on the act of selection rather than the options or process of deciding.
What role does context play in using "choice" vs. "pick"?
The context significantly affects the choice between these words; "choice" is more suitable in formal or extensive decision-making contexts, while "pick" is better for everyday, straightforward selections.
How does the emotional connotation differ between "choice" and "pick"?
"Choice" often carries a deeper emotional weight, associated with significant decisions and freedoms, while "pick" tends to be lighter, used in everyday decisions without much emotional implication.
Is one more decisive than the other?
"Pick" can appear more decisive as it directly refers to the act of choosing a specific option, whereas "choice" can suggest a range of options and possibly ongoing deliberation.
How do "choice" and "pick" relate to responsibility?
With "choice," there is an implication of responsibility for the decision, given the emphasis on deliberation and options; "pick" suggests a quicker decision, potentially with less consideration of consequences.
How do "choice" and "pick" appear in legal or technical contexts?
In legal or technical contexts, "choice" is preferred for its implications of options and informed decision-making, while "pick" is less common due to its casual tone.
What implications does each word have in terms of control?
"Choice" implies a higher level of control over the decision-making process, reflecting the ability to evaluate and consider. "Pick" suggests a more immediate control over the act of selecting.
How might these terms influence the perception of a speaker or writer?
Using "choice" might make a speaker seem more thoughtful or considerate, as it reflects a deliberative process. Using "pick" might make a speaker appear more decisive or practical, focusing on immediate action.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
