take-up
/ˈtāk-ˌəp/ (ame, mw)
take-up — phrasal verb
- take-upbase form
- take-ups3rd person singular
- take-uping-ing form
- take-upedpast simple
1. to lift something solid from a surface or from the ground, especially something
to lift something solid from a surface or from the ground, especially something that has fallen or been left lying there
Lukas bent down and took up the book that had slipped off the desk.
The gardener took up the fallen branches and carried them to the compost heap.
collocation: take up + fallen objects (branches, leaves)
Jiwoo took up the fragile vase and placed it gently on the top shelf.
Heather picked up the fallen picture frame, then took up the scattered photos from the carpet.
- put down
to place something onto a surface
文法句型
take + up + noun phrase
take + noun phrase + up
用法筆記
Object is usually a physical item resting on a surface, often something that has fallen or been set down. More common in writing than in everyday spoken requests — for casual speech, 'pick up' is typically preferred.
常見錯誤
2. to begin using an area of land for a specific purpose, such as farming, building
to begin using an area of land for a specific purpose, such as farming, building, or settlement
The community group took up the empty lot and turned it into a vegetable garden.
Rohan's family took up several hectares near the river to grow rice and vegetables.
pattern: take up + [area of land] + for + [purpose]
New housing developments have taken up most of the fields around the town.
The company plans to take up the old factory site and build a warehouse there.
Before the settlers arrived, no one had taken up this part of the valley for farming.
- abandon
to leave land unused
文法句型
take up + noun phrase (land, site, area)
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person, group, or organisation. Object is typically undeveloped or underused land. Distinguish from sense 10 (OCCUPY SPACE OR TIME) — this sense is specifically about starting to use land for a defined purpose, not about filling space.
常見錯誤
3. to collect or obtain things, information, or materials from various places or pe
to collect or obtain things, information, or materials from various places or people
Mira took up donations from colleagues across the office for the charity run.
pattern: take up + [noun] + from + [source]
The journalist took up facts and figures from several different reports before writing the article.
Diego took up old family photographs from relatives to include in the history book.
The charity took up blankets and warm clothes from donors all over the city.
Esme took up stories and recipes from her grandmother for the community cookbook project.
- collect
more general; can be systematic or casual collection
- gather
very similar but more common in everyday English
- accumulate
suggests gradual build-up over time; more formal
- distribute
to give out items to many people
文法句型
take up + noun phrase + from + plural source
用法筆記
Object is often plural (donations, facts, materials, stories). The prepositional phrase 'from [sources]' is usually included to indicate where the items came from. The sources are typically multiple and varied, not a single origin.
常見錯誤
4. to begin a paid job or officially accept a position, after being offered or appo
to begin a paid job or officially accept a position, after being offered or appointed to it, and then start carrying out the duties that go with it
Sirin will take up her new role as head of marketing next Monday.
pattern: take up + role/position
Eitan took up a teaching position at the international school in Singapore.
After the coach retired, Camila took up the position and trained the junior team every Saturday.
Zuri finally took up her duties as a nurse after six months of intensive training.
The mayor took up the post of city commissioner after winning the election by a wide margin.
- resign from
to formally give up a position
- leave
to exit a job or role
文法句型
take up + a/the + post/position/role/job + of/as + noun phrase
用法筆記
Object is always a specific position, post, role, or set of duties — never a person. Distinguish from sense 9 (SETTLE OR RESIDE), which is about taking up residence in a place rather than assuming a role. Distinguish from sense 7 (START A HOBBY), which is about leisure activities, not paid work.
常見錯誤
5. to start using or following a new idea, habit, style, belief, or way of doing so
to start using or following a new idea, habit, style, belief, or way of doing something as your own
After living in Kyoto for a year, Lukas took up many local customs and traditions.
The school took up a new approach to teaching maths after seeing excellent results in Finland.
pattern: take up + a new + [approach/method/practice]
Naomi took up a new filing system at the office after realising the old method caused endless delays.
Several fashion brands have taken up the use of recycled materials in their clothing lines.
Heather took up the practice of writing in a journal each night before going to bed.
文法句型
take up + noun phrase (a habit, an idea, a practice, a style)
用法筆記
Object is always abstract: an idea, method, custom, habit, style, or belief — never a physical object. Frequent in discussions of cultural adoption, workplace practices, and lifestyle changes. Distinguish from sense 7 (START A HOBBY), which is about starting a regular leisure activity for enjoyment.
常見錯誤
6. to absorb a liquid, gas, or fine substance into itself through pores or small op
to absorb a liquid, gas, or fine substance into itself through pores or small openings
The dry soil quickly took up all the rainwater from the sudden afternoon storm.
A paper towel will take up the spilled juice much faster than a cloth napkin will.
comparison: paper towel vs cloth napkin — absorbing speed
The sponge took up the water from the kitchen counter in just a few seconds.
Plants take up carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen during the daylight hours.
Emma used a cloth to take up the excess paint that had dripped onto the floor.
文法句型
take up + noun phrase (water, liquid, moisture, gas)
用法筆記
Subject is a porous material, fabric, soil, sponge, or living organism. Object is a liquid, gas, or fine substance. More common in technical or descriptive writing than in casual speech, where 'soak up' or 'absorb' are preferred.
常見錯誤
7. to decide to start doing a new activity regularly for enjoyment, such as a sport
to decide to start doing a new activity regularly for enjoyment, such as a sport, hobby, or creative pursuit
After retiring, Saira took up painting and soon filled her house with watercolour landscapes.
take up + gerund (painting) as hobby
Dahlia took up yoga to ease the back pain from sitting at her desk all day.
take up + noun (yoga) as health activity
Tariq took up photography after his uncle gave him an old film camera.
The community centre offered free classes to anyone wanting to take up a new language.
Yuki took up knitting during the winter and made scarves for the whole family.
- give up
to stop doing a hobby or activity you previously started
文法句型
take up + noun phrase (hobby / sport / subject)
take up + gerund (painting / running / playing)
用法筆記
Commonly used with hobbies and sports ending in -ing (painting, running, photography). The object can come before or after the particle: 'take up yoga' or 'take yoga up', though the first pattern is more frequent. Distinguish from sense 4 (START A JOB OR ROLE) — this sense is for leisure activities, not paid work or official positions.
常見錯誤
8. to raise or begin discussing a particular subject, issue, or question, typically
to raise or begin discussing a particular subject, issue, or question, typically in a meeting, speech, or formal discussion setting
The committee will take up the issue of parking fees at next month's meeting.
take up + issue in a formal meeting context
Stephanie took up the matter directly with the hotel manager after her booking went missing.
Let me take up that point about safety rules when we reach item five on the agenda.
The senator plans to take up the question of healthcare funding in her next speech.
文法句型
take up + noun phrase (matter / issue / question / point)
用法筆記
This sense focuses on raising or initiating discussion of a topic — distinct from sense 13 (RESUME AFTER PAUSE), which is about restarting an ongoing activity that was interrupted. The object usually comes after the particle: 'take up a matter' is more common than 'take a matter up' in formal contexts.
常見錯誤
9. to start living permanently or for an extended period in a particular place, suc
to start living permanently or for an extended period in a particular place, such as a city, house, or country, especially after a period of travel or change
After years of travelling, the Watanabe family finally took up residence in a quiet town near Kyoto.
take up residence (formal, living in a place)
Many young families have taken up residence in the newly built apartments near the park.
The artist took up quarters in a small village in Provence and painted the countryside for ten years.
After the earthquake, several displaced families took up residence in temporary shelters provided by the government.
- settle
similar but can be intransitive ('settle in a place')
- move to
less formal; focuses on the relocation rather than the establishment of a home
- establish oneself
more formal; can refer to both living and working
文法句型
take up + residence / quarters / a home
take up residence in [place]
用法筆記
This sense is specifically about establishing a home or living arrangements — it does NOT refer to job roles or positions. Typically used with 'residence' or 'quarters' as the object. Common in formal writing about where people live. For official job roles, use sense 4 (START A JOB OR ROLE).
常見錯誤
10. to fill a particular amount of space or time, often in a way that is noticeable
to fill a particular amount of space or time, often in a way that is noticeable or causes something else to be limited
The old piano took up so much room that the family could barely fit the sofa.
take up + space (physical)
Greta's research project took up most of her summer holiday, leaving little time for travel.
take up + time (temporal)
The boxes of winter clothes take up half the space in the basement storage room.
Sari's new responsibilities at the clinic took up every minute of her working day.
- free up
to make space or time available by removing something
文法句型
take up + noun phrase (space / room / time / the whole day)
用法筆記
The object may come before or after the particle: 'take up space' and 'take space up' are both possible, though the post-particle position is far more common. The subject is most frequently an inanimate object or an activity, not a person.
常見錯誤
11. to make something shorter or tighter by pulling, folding, or adjusting it, or to
to make something shorter or tighter by pulling, folding, or adjusting it, or to become shorter or tighter through a natural process
The tailor took up the hem of Mizuki's dress by about three centimetres.
take up + hem (sewing context)
Ife took up the slack in the rope until the tent stood straight and firm.
take up + slack (tightening a rope)
The sleeves of this jacket are too long — I need to take them up a few centimetres.
The cotton fabric took up slightly after the first wash, so the shirt felt tighter around the shoulders.
Andrés watched the rope take up as the anchor dropped, pulling the boat slowly toward the dock.
文法句型
take up + noun phrase (hem / sleeves / rope / slack)
take up (intransitive: fabric/rope shortens on its own)
用法筆記
As a transitive verb, the object often separates the parts: 'take the hem up' or 'take up the hem' are both possible. As an intransitive verb, the subject is typically fabric or material that shrinks in length. Distinguish from 'take in', which means to make narrower (not shorter).
常見錯誤
12. to accept an offer, bet, or challenge from someone, especially one that involves
to accept an offer, bet, or challenge from someone, especially one that involves some risk, effort, or personal commitment
Devika took up her colleague's challenge to run a half-marathon for charity next spring.
take up + challenge
When the bank offered an early retirement package, several senior staff took it up immediately.
take + it + up (separable with pronoun object)
I took my brother up on his bet that I could not finish the puzzle in under an hour.
The local football club took up a sponsor's offer to fund new equipment for the junior team.
文法句型
take up + noun phrase (offer / challenge / bet)
take + person + up on + noun phrase (offer / challenge / bet)
用法筆記
Two patterns are common: 'take up + offer/challenge' (direct object after up) and 'take + person + up on + offer/bet' (mentioning who made the offer). When the object is a pronoun (it, that), it must come between 'take' and 'up': 'took it up', not 'took up it'. Distinguish from sense 10 (OCCUPY SPACE OR TIME) which is about filling space or time, not about accepting offers.
常見錯誤
13. to restart an activity, narrative, or task after a pause or interruption, pickin
to restart an activity, narrative, or task after a pause or interruption, picking up from where it stopped without starting over
After a short break for lunch, the team took up their discussion of the budget.
take up + object (resuming an activity after a pause)
Professor Ayana took up the research where her colleague had left off before retiring.
pattern: take up where [someone] left off
Omar took up the story after his sister paused to pour some tea.
Mira took up the conversation where it had been interrupted by the phone call.
After a brief interruption, the manager took up the discussion where they had left off.
文法句型
take up + noun phrase (story / discussion / conversation)
take up where [someone] left off
用法筆記
The pattern 'take up where [someone] left off' is a common fixed expression. Distinguish from sense 8 (ADDRESS A MATTER) — sense 8 is about raising a topic for the first time in a formal discussion, while this sense is about restarting an activity that was already in progress but got paused. The object in this sense is an ongoing activity (story, discussion, work), while sense 8's object is a topic or issue being introduced.
常見錯誤
14. to start singing, chanting, or shouting along with others who have already begun
to start singing, chanting, or shouting along with others who have already begun.
The whole crowd took up the chant, filling the stadium with noise.
take up + chant/cry/song
When the band played the chorus, the audience took up the tune and sang along.
The students took up the protest cry as they marched past the gates.
When the lead singer forgot the words, the fans took up the tune instead.
文法句型
take up + noun phrase (chant/song/cry/chorus)
用法筆記
The subject is typically a group (crowd, audience, class) rather than an individual. Used for vocal participation — singing, chanting, shouting slogans.
15. to go to and stay in a chosen physical spot or stance, especially when following
to go to and stay in a chosen physical spot or stance, especially when following a plan or preparing for something.
Kian took up a position behind the counter to help serve the lunch crowd.
take up a position (physical spot)
Hoa took up her usual seat at the back of the classroom on the first day of the term.
The soldiers took up defensive positions along the ridge before sunrise.
Eve took up a spot by the window where she could watch the rain fall on the street below.
- station oneself
more formal; suggests staying in one place for a purpose
- position oneself
slightly more deliberate-sounding; often used in planning contexts
- move away from
to leave a previously chosen spot
文法句型
take up + noun phrase (position/seat/spot/stance)
take up + possessive + position/spot
用法筆記
The position or spot is typically chosen deliberately, not random. Common in military, sports, and everyday contexts where someone chooses where to stand, sit, or wait.
常見錯誤
take-up — noun
1. the number of people who decide to use a service or buy a new product during a p
the number of people who decide to use a service or buy a new product during a particular period after it has been offered to them
The take-up of the new health insurance plan was much higher than the government expected.
collocation: take-up of [service]
Poor internet connections in rural areas led to a very low take-up of online banking services.
collocation: low take-up
The software company offered free trials to boost the take-up of its latest program among schools.
Council officers were pleased with the take-up of the free childcare scheme for working parents.
The take-up rate for the new bus pass among students has been slow so far this term.
- uptake
Same meaning but more common in American English and often written as one word
- adoption rate
More specific; used when people actively choose something over alternatives
- subscription rate
Limited to paid regular services such as magazines, apps, or memberships
文法句型
take-up of [service/product/program]
high/low/slow take-up
take-up rate
用法筆記
Common in British English business and government contexts. Often paired with adjectives such as high, low, or slow. Followed by of to specify the service or product being adopted.