What does "cherry-pick" mean?
To pick out the best or most desirable items from a list or group, especially to obtain some advantage or to present something in the best possible light.
Cherry-pick
verb
verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To pick out the best or most desirable items from a list or group, especially to obtain some advantage or to present something in the best possible light.
- Grammar: cherry-pick is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: best pick, biased, biased pick, choose.
- Useful contrasts: complete data, discard, fair selection.
- Usage evidence: In this era of post-truth politics, it's easy to cherry-pick data and come to whatever conclusion you desire.
How to use "cherry-pick"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "cherry-pick" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "cherry-pick" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "cherry-pick" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "cherry-pick" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "cherry-pick" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "best pick" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "cherry-pick", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To pick out the best or most desirable items from a list or group, especially to obtain some advantage or to present something in the best possible light. idiomatic
"Screeners can help you cherry-pick a promising group of stocks that meet your exact specifications."
- 2 To select only evidence which supports an argument, and reject or ignore contradictory evidence. broadly, rhetoric
"From all the available statistics, the politician cherry-picked only those that backed up his ideas."
- 3 To position oneself near the opponent's goal to attempt to receive an errant or intentional pass for an easy score, as in basketball or versions of soccer where offsides are not enforced. US, idiomatic
- 4 To broadcast selected programming from another network. US, idiomatic
"Those stations that will send CNN tapes of their local and regional news for CNN to cherry-pick from, in turn will be allowed to cherry-pick themselves."
- 5 In source control, to commit selected changes from one branch to another.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"In this era of post-truth politics, it's easy to cherry-pick data and come to whatever conclusion you desire."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "cherry-pick"?
Common synonyms include: best pick, biased, biased pick, choose, curated, handpicked.
How do you use "cherry-pick" in a sentence?
In this era of post-truth politics, it's easy to cherry-pick data and come to whatever conclusion you desire.
Etymology
A metaphor, from the idea of picking through a bowl of cherries and seeking the best for oneself, or the idea of picking off the cherries for oneself from a cake or dessert.