1 C1 neutral
To carefully and personally select someone or something from a group. (Non-standard; prefer 'handpick' or 'pick out'.)
"The coach handpicked out the most promising players for the national squad."
separable
handpick out
C1 neutral separable transitive
To personally and carefully select someone or something from a group. (Note: non-standard; 'handpick' or 'pick out' are strongly preferred.)
In plain English
To carefully choose someone or something yourself.
What does "handpick out" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To pick something by hand and take it out from a group.
Actually means
To carefully choose someone or something yourself.
Usage tip
This form is non-standard and extremely rare. The 'out' is redundant when combined with 'handpick'. Native speakers universally prefer 'handpick' or 'pick out'. Learners should avoid this form and use 'handpick' or 'carefully select' instead.
Words that pair with "handpick out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
candidate team member talent individual
How to conjugate "handpick out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
handpick out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
handpicks out
he/she/it
Past simple
handpicked out
yesterday
Past participle
handpicked out
have + pp
-ing form
handpicking out
continuous
Hear "handpick out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "handpick out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "handpick out"
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