take up
Third Person
takes up
Present Participle
taking up
Past Tense
took up
Past Participle
taken up
1
to make a new interest or hobby a regular part of one's life
transitive
- Let's take up the habit of reading before bedtime.
- The family took up hiking as a weekend activity.
- We should take up a fitness routine for a healthier lifestyle.
- They took up gardening to enjoy the outdoors.
- I decided to take up yoga for its health benefits.
2
to occupy a particular amount of space or time
transitive
- The large sofa took up most of the room.
- The new project took up a significant portion of their schedule.
- The meeting took up the entire afternoon.
- She took the entire shelf up with her books.
- The painting takes up a considerable amount of wall space.
3
to discuss a particular topic or issue
transitive
- We need to take up the matter of budget cuts in the next team meeting.
- Let's take the proposal up during the board meeting and gather feedback.
- The council decided to take up the issue of street parking at the upcoming session.
- The board plans to take up the suggestion for a new employee wellness program.
- The members agreed to take up the matter of employee benefits in the upcoming meeting.
4
to adjust the length of a piece of clothing to make it shorter
transitive
- She decided to take up the dress for a better fit.
- The stylist took the suit pants up for a modern, tailored appearance.
- The mother took her daughter's school uniform up as she grew taller.
- They took the curtains up to match the room's decor.
- The fashion designer took up the hem to create a unique style.
5
to accept someone as a student or trainee
transitive
- The experienced artist decided to take up a talented young painter as a protégé.
- The coding academy took up enthusiastic learners for an immersive coding bootcamp.
- The school took up the dedicated students for a special science and technology program.
- The theater director took up aspiring actors for an exclusive acting workshop.
- The renowned scientist took up the passionate student for a research project on climate change.
6
to start a job or position and begin doing the associated tasks
transitive
- She took the new position up eagerly.
- Take the responsibilities up as soon as possible.
- Please take up the role with confidence.
- She happily took up the job offer from the reputable company.
Synonyms:
7
to gather something with a tool or by hand
transitive
- She decided to take up a handful of sand and let it run through her fingers.
- The chef used a ladle to take up a portion of soup for tasting.
- The farmer took up a handful of soil to check its moisture content.
- The child eagerly took up a handful of pebbles from the riverbank.
8
to move oneself into a specific position or location
transitive
- The company plans to take up a larger office space next year.
- As the sun set, the campers took up their places around the fire.
- The chef took up his position in the kitchen, ready to prepare the evening's specials.
- The team took up strategic positions before the match started.
9
to resume an activity, topic, or task that was previously interrupted
transitive
- The band took up their performance after a short break.
- They took up the task with renewed enthusiasm.
- Can we take the conversation up after lunch?
- Let's take up the game from where we paused.
Synonyms:
10
to absorb something, resembling the action of a sponge
transitive
- She grabbed a towel to take up the water that had leaked from the bottle.
- The paper towel is designed to take up liquids efficiently.
- The sponge can take up spills on various surfaces in the kitchen.
- The sponge was able to take up the spilled milk from the floor.
- The roots of the tree take up nutrients from the surrounding soil.
11
to accept an opportunity
transitive
- She is considering taking up the challenge of starting her own business.
- Taking up the offer to volunteer can make a positive impact.
- Taking up a leadership role involves additional responsibilities.
- The student took up the opportunity to study abroad.
- She took up the bet to try a new cuisine every month.
Synonyms:
12
to pick something up from a lower position
transitive
- She took up the bags and walked to the car.
- The movers took up the sofa and carried it into the truck.
- She took up the toys and placed them on the shelf.
- The delivery person took up the large parcel and carried it to the door.