take up arms
idiom
: to pick up weapons and become ready to fight
They took up arms to defend their city.
The rebels are taking up arms against their own government.
Examples of take up arms in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The move comes two days after Abiy urges citizens to take up arms to defend themselves against TPLF.
—
CNN, 11 Nov. 2022
Pawnee Scouts, who frequently had to take up arms against other indigenous people.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2022
Huynh did take up arms, according to his fiancee’s family, in addition to training Ukrainian troops and bringing in medical supplies.
—Alex Horton, Washington Post, 12 July 2022
So long as Americans do not take up arms for a violent group that opposes the U.S. government, there are few restrictions.
—Anchorage Daily News, 14 Mar. 2022
In remarks broadcast Thursday morning, Zelenskyy called on Ukrainians to take up arms in self-defense.
—NBC News, 25 Feb. 2022
In the course of her reporting, Williams has also met civilians willing to take up arms to defend their homeland.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2022
Tigrayans celebrated when Abiy declared a ceasefire in June, but now their forces are on the offensive and Abiy responded with a call for all capable citizens to take up arms and join the fight to show patriotism.
—Kenneth Moton, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2021
In anticipation of a verdict in the trial, Facebook pledged to remove posts from Facebook and Instagram that urged people to take up arms and any content that praised, celebrated or mocked George Floyd’s death.
—Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2021
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CNN, 11 Nov. 2022
Pawnee Scouts, who frequently had to take up arms against other indigenous people.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2022
Huynh did take up arms, according to his fiancee’s family, in addition to training Ukrainian troops and bringing in medical supplies.
—Alex Horton, Washington Post, 12 July 2022
So long as Americans do not take up arms for a violent group that opposes the U.S. government, there are few restrictions.
—Anchorage Daily News, 14 Mar. 2022
In remarks broadcast Thursday morning, Zelenskyy called on Ukrainians to take up arms in self-defense.
—NBC News, 25 Feb. 2022
In the course of her reporting, Williams has also met civilians willing to take up arms to defend their homeland.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2022
Tigrayans celebrated when Abiy declared a ceasefire in June, but now their forces are on the offensive and Abiy responded with a call for all capable citizens to take up arms and join the fight to show patriotism.
—Kenneth Moton, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2021
In anticipation of a verdict in the trial, Facebook pledged to remove posts from Facebook and Instagram that urged people to take up arms and any content that praised, celebrated or mocked George Floyd’s death.
—Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'take up arms.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Take up arms.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20up%20arms. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.
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