picnic
1 of 2noun
pic·nic ˈpik-(ˌ)nik 
often attributive
1
: an excursion or outing with food usually provided by members of the group and eaten in the open
also : the food provided for a picnic
2
a
: a pleasant or amusingly carefree experience
I don't expect being married to be a picnic
Josephine Pinckney
Josephine Pinckney b
: an easy task or feat
3
: a shoulder of pork with much of the butt removed
picnicky
ˈpik-(ˌ)ni-kē
adjective picnic
2 of 2verb
picnicked; picnicking
intransitive verb
: to go on a picnic : eat in picnic fashion
picnicker noun
Synonyms
Noun
- beer and skittles
- easy street
- fun and games
- hog heaven
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun We decided to have a picnic on the beach. We ate our picnic by the lake. The annual school picnic is this weekend. This winter is a picnic compared with last year's. Verb We picnicked in the park.
Recent Examples on the Web Tony Roberts, Baltimore Sun, 14 Sep. 2022 Everybody loves a fall picnic—just ask the graveyard shift! Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2022 Hermann Park, Emancipation Park, Memorial Park, Levy Park and Evelyn's Park are just a few top locations where the only necessities for an enjoyable picnic are good food and great company. Gabi De La Rosa, Chron, 9 Sep. 2022 The family also celebrated her first birthday with a backyard picnic at Frogmore Cottage, the official royal residence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Julie Tremaine, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2022 Pack a picnic and catch an outdoor performance from the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, who has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as both a solo artist and a member of Fleetwood Mac. Samantha Nelson, Chicago Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 Sometimes known as the picnic battle, Bull Run was just the first in a long line of traditions started during the Civil War. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 8 Sep. 2022 The free monthly community picnic known as Food in Motion returns to Peter Feldman Park in downtown Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, with music, food trucks and a lineup of creative vendors. Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2022 The northern terminus of Eastern Trail ends at a beautiful, 8.78-acre waterfront park, a popular picnic and kite-flying spot. Pamela Wright, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 16 Sep. 2022 While the winery welcomes picnic blankets and camping chairs, dogs and anyone under 21 years of age will not be allowed. Michael Alberty | For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 27 Aug. 2022 Temple Adas Shalom in Havre de Grace will hold a Jewish New Year kickoff picnic and meet-and-greet with its new rabbi, Meeka Simerly, on Sunday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2022 Once your kids outgrow sitting in it, the wagon is still great for carting around beach gear or picnic supplies. Jamie Spain, Good Housekeeping, 24 Aug. 2022 Bond and Tilly picnic on sausages and bread at Lyon, then have dinner at Bavaria Brasserie and enjoy enzian (gentian schnaaps) washed down with Löwenbrau, choucroute garni and Gruyère with a carafe of Swiss Fendant du Valais. John Mariani, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 Group camps, horse camps and picnic pavilions will increase by 20-30% depending on location and group size. Moira Ritter, ajc, 22 Aug. 2022 The couple, who were first set up by Goldberg’s brother in 2019, became engaged after a mountain hike and picnic lunch at Vermejo Park Ranch, an outing that recreated their very first date, a source close to the couple previously told PEOPLE. Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 20 Aug. 2022 Looking for a new place to exercise, picnic or play with your kids? Shanti Lerner, The Arizona Republic, 19 Aug. 2022 See More
Noun
This year’s annual picnic will have food and drink, music and other activities. Tony Roberts, Baltimore Sun, 14 Sep. 2022 Everybody loves a fall picnic—just ask the graveyard shift! Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2022 Hermann Park, Emancipation Park, Memorial Park, Levy Park and Evelyn's Park are just a few top locations where the only necessities for an enjoyable picnic are good food and great company. Gabi De La Rosa, Chron, 9 Sep. 2022 The family also celebrated her first birthday with a backyard picnic at Frogmore Cottage, the official royal residence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Julie Tremaine, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2022 Pack a picnic and catch an outdoor performance from the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, who has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as both a solo artist and a member of Fleetwood Mac. Samantha Nelson, Chicago Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 Sometimes known as the picnic battle, Bull Run was just the first in a long line of traditions started during the Civil War. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 8 Sep. 2022 The free monthly community picnic known as Food in Motion returns to Peter Feldman Park in downtown Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, with music, food trucks and a lineup of creative vendors. Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2022 The northern terminus of Eastern Trail ends at a beautiful, 8.78-acre waterfront park, a popular picnic and kite-flying spot. Pamela Wright, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 Verb
Sausage rolls are the perfect lunch food, picnic food, or snacks-for-dinner food. Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 16 Sep. 2022 While the winery welcomes picnic blankets and camping chairs, dogs and anyone under 21 years of age will not be allowed. Michael Alberty | For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 27 Aug. 2022 Temple Adas Shalom in Havre de Grace will hold a Jewish New Year kickoff picnic and meet-and-greet with its new rabbi, Meeka Simerly, on Sunday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2022 Once your kids outgrow sitting in it, the wagon is still great for carting around beach gear or picnic supplies. Jamie Spain, Good Housekeeping, 24 Aug. 2022 Bond and Tilly picnic on sausages and bread at Lyon, then have dinner at Bavaria Brasserie and enjoy enzian (gentian schnaaps) washed down with Löwenbrau, choucroute garni and Gruyère with a carafe of Swiss Fendant du Valais. John Mariani, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 Group camps, horse camps and picnic pavilions will increase by 20-30% depending on location and group size. Moira Ritter, ajc, 22 Aug. 2022 The couple, who were first set up by Goldberg’s brother in 2019, became engaged after a mountain hike and picnic lunch at Vermejo Park Ranch, an outing that recreated their very first date, a source close to the couple previously told PEOPLE. Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 20 Aug. 2022 Looking for a new place to exercise, picnic or play with your kids? Shanti Lerner, The Arizona Republic, 19 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
German or French; German Picknick, from French pique-nique
First Known Use
Noun
1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1815, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing picnic
Kids Definition
picnic 1 of 2
noun
pic·nic ˈpik-ˌnik
1
: an outdoor party with food taken along and eaten in the open
2
: a pleasant or carefree experience
A broken leg is no picnic.
picnic
2 of 2verb
picnicked; picnicking
: to go on a picnic
picnicked
verb
as in dined
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- dined
- snacked
- partook
- ate
- fed
- noshed
- grazed
- nibbled
- lunched
- feasted
- refreshed
- breakfasted
- supped
- banqueted
- victualled
- fared
- victualed
- gorged
- overfed
- glutted
- picked
- overate
- pigged out
- boarded
- repasted
- gormandized
- dined out
- messed
- dug in
- chowed (down)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fasted
- dieted
- palaeotherian
- Palaeotheriidae
- palaeotheriodont
- Palaeotremata
- palaeotremate
- Palaeotropical
- palaeotypographist
- palaeotypography
- palaeozoologies
- palaeozoologist
- palaeozoologists
- palaeozoology
- palaeozoologyes
- palaeozoologys
- palaestina
- palaestra
- palaestrae
- palaestras
- palaetiological
- palaetiologies
- palaetiology
- palaetiologyes
- palaetiologys
- palafitte
- palafittes