uptake

noun

up·​take ˈəp-ˌtāk 

plural uptakes

1

: the act or action of grasping with the mind : understanding, comprehension

—usually used in the phrases quick on the uptake and slow on the uptake

Djuna was a very haughty lady, quick on the uptake [=quick to learn or understand], and with a wisecracking tongue that I was far too discreet to try and rival.

—Robert McAlmon

"Unfortunately, I had to hex Kingsley too, or it would have looked very suspicious," said Dumbledore in a low voice. "He was remarkably quick on the uptake, modifying Miss Edgecombe's memory like that while everyone was looking the other way …"

—J. K Rowling

In fact I am forming the impression that I am generally a little slow on the uptake. A real lunk, sometimes.

—Martin Amis

Such knowledge of popular cultural lore becomes, in fact, a principal criterion for selecting new creative recruits. No one wants to work with a creative who, like account executives and clients, is slow on the uptake.

—Robert Jackall et al.

2

: an act or instance of absorbing and incorporating something

Here, we show observations indicating substantial variability in the CO2 uptake by the North Atlantic on time scales of a few years.

—Andrew J. Watson et al.

especially : the absorption or incorporation of a substance into a living organism, tissue, or cell

Many bacteria communicate with one another through the secretion and uptake of small signaling molecules.

—Science

In muscle and adipose tissue, insulin stimulates the uptake, storage, and use of glucose.

—David E. Moller et al.

Although most tricyclic antidepressants inhibit neuronal uptake of noradrenaline and serotonin, their mechanism of action remains unclear.

—Rita Raisman et al.

Eventually, the roots become grossly misshapen, impeding a plant's uptake of water and nutrients from soil.

—Christen Brownlee

see also reuptake

3

: the act of using, participating in, adopting, or taking advantage of an available product, service, opportunity, etc.

… increased uptake of colonoscopy was a result of decreased use of other screening modalities rather than an overall increased rate of uptake of colorectal screening.

—Vickie L. Shavers et al.

In my August column, "Missing the Boat on Broadband," I wondered why broadband uptake has hit a plateau, and I expressed amazement that more people didn't find the offer of ten times the speed at double the cost an attractive proposition.

—Bill Machrone

The idea, which has floated around for months without getting much uptake from European decision-makers, is to scarf up Greece's unaffordable debt on the open market and exchange it for new, more affordable long-term bonds issued by a (presumably) reformed Greek government.

—Peter Coy

4

: a flue leading upward

The large uptake or flue pipe between the boilers and the chimney was damaged.

—The Record-Argus (Greenville, Pennsylvania)

… in the nickel smelting process, an uptake flue is monitored, when the volume percentage of oxygen is more than 3%, nitrogen is used as carrier gas to blow the deoxidizer …

—Environmental Patent News

Examples of uptake in a Sentence

oxygen uptake by the body

the plant's uptake of water

a rapid uptake of liquid

She's pretty quick on the uptake.

Recent Examples on the Web

The drugs are costly however, running $1,000 a month and up in the U.S., and are often not covered by insurance, which limits their uptake. —Catherine Arnst, Quartz, 13 May 2025

These include some antibiotics and antidepressants, like the selective serotonin uptake inhibitor fluvoxamine (Luvox), according to the UK’s National Health Service, as well as the asthma treatment theophylline, according to the Mayo Clinic. —Caroline Tien, SELF, 5 May 2025

However, uptake of material design in apps has been modest so far. —Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 5 May 2025

The data suggests momentum—biosimilar uptake grew significantly in 2024 alone. —Yasser Almuaala, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Scots uptake to understand

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing uptake

• quick on the uptake
• slow on the uptake

Rhymes for uptake

• awake
• backache
• beefsteak
• betake
• cheesecake
• cupcake
• daybreak
• earthquake
• eastlake
• forsake
• handshake
• headache

Kids Definition

uptake

noun

up·​take ˈəp-ˌtāk 

1

: understanding entry 1 sense 1, comprehension

quick on the uptake

2

: a process especially in a living organism of absorbing and combining with something

oxygen uptake

Medical Definition

uptake

noun

up·​take ˈəp-ˌtāk 

: an act or instance of absorbing or incorporating something especially into a living organism, tissue, or cell

In muscle and adipose tissue, insulin stimulates the uptake, storage, and use of glucose.

—David E. Moller et al., The New England Journal of Medicine

Although most tricyclic antidepressants inhibit neuronal uptake of noradrenaline and serotonin, their mechanism of action remains unclear.

—Rita Raisman et al., Nature