Picky Meaning
/ˈpɪki/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjFussy; particular; demanding to have things just right.
adjOf food or a meal: consisting of various small items from which the diner can pick and choose.
Sentence Examples
Is your husband a picky eater?
You shouldn't be so picky about food.
You shouldn't be picky about other people's work, you know?
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ eater refused to eat anything except plain pasta and bread.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The child was extremely ____ about food and refused to eat anything green or unfamiliar.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English pick Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English picky From pick + -y.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Most of the pickiest children were actually in the middle weight group, though a few were underweight and a few were overweight."
— 2018 June 4, Perri Klass, M.D., “When New Means No: Picky Eating as a Normal Toddler Phase”, in The New York Times:
"Singletons have become 'pickier' about their potential partners following the pandemic, one dating expert has claimed - insisting they are now even more concerned about the 'pink flags' that could lead to 'red flag scenarios'."
— 2021 December 12, Jessica Green, “The subtle signs YOUR relationship is set to fail: Relationship expert reveals the 'less-obvious' warning signals - including watching TOO much TV and not taking photos together”, in Daily Mail, London: DMG Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 19 Dec 2021:
"[…] a picky meal of bean-sprouts and humous […]"
— 1988, Jan Webster, One Little Room, page 240:
"And who knows, I might do a few pickies of you - fully clothed, needless to say."
— 1988, Alan Hollinghurst, The Swimming-Pool Library, paperback edition, London: Penguin Books, →ISBN, page 44:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ eater refused to eat anything except plain pasta and bread.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The child was extremely ____ about food and refused to eat anything green or unfamiliar.