Picking something up:
* She was picking up the pieces of her broken vase. (meaning: gathering the fragments)
* He was picking up the slack after his coworker left. (meaning: taking on extra work)
* The phone started picking up the sound of their conversation. (meaning: becoming able to hear)
Picking something out:
* I was picking out a new dress for the party. (meaning: choosing)
* The detective was picking out clues from the crime scene. (meaning: identifying)
* She was picking out a tune on the piano. (meaning: playing)
Picking something from somewhere:
* The farmer was picking apples from the orchard. (meaning: gathering)
* He was picking lice from his child's hair. (meaning: removing)
* The bird was picking seeds from the ground. (meaning: selecting)
Picking a fight:
* He was always picking fights with his classmates. (meaning: starting an argument)
* The dog was picking a fight with the cat. (meaning: behaving aggressively)
Picking at something:
* He was picking at his food, not very hungry. (meaning: eating slowly and without enthusiasm)
* She was picking at her nails, nervous about the interview. (meaning: fidgeting)
* The carpenter was picking at the wood with a chisel. (meaning: working on something carefully)
These are just a few examples, and the meaning of "picking" can vary depending on the context.