take up

take up

verb

Definition of TAKE UP

transitive verb

1

: pick up, lift <took up the carpet>

2

a : to begin to occupy (land) b : to gather from a number of sources <took up a collection>

3

a : to accept or adopt for the purpose of assisting b : to accept or adopt as one's own <took up the life of a farmer> c : to absorb or incorporate into itself <plants taking up nutrients>

4

a : to enter upon (as a business, hobby, or subject of study) <take up skiing> <took up the trumpet> b : to proceed to consider or deal with <take up one problem at a time>

5

: to establish oneself in <took up residence in town>

6

: to occupy entirely or exclusively : fill up <the meeting was taken up with old business>

7

: to make tighter or shorter <take up the slack>

8

: to respond favorably to (as a person offering a bet, challenge, or proposal) <took me up on it>

9

: to begin again or take over from another <we must take the good work up again>

intransitive verb

1

: to make a beginning where another has left off

2

: to become shortened : draw together : shrink

— take up the cudgels

: to engage vigorously in a defense or dispute

— take up with

1

: to become interested or absorbed in

2

: to begin to associate or consort with

Examples of TAKE UP

1. <please take up the blanket so I can look underneath it>
2. <the soil was so dry that the plant seemed to take up the much-needed water instantly>

First Known Use of TAKE UP

14th century

Related to TAKE UP

Synonyms: boost, crane, elevate, heave, heft, heighten, hike, hoist, jack (up), lift, perk (up), pick up, raise, up, uphold, uplift, upraise

Antonyms: drop, lower

Related Words: ascend, mount, rise; rear, upend

Near Antonyms: descend, dip, fall, pitch, plunge, slip; bear, depress, press, push; sink, submerge

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with TAKE UP

break up, make up, rake up, shake up