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

Afforestation in Southwest China could contribute to an uptake of up to 10% of the annual water supply available in the region, according to a March 2020 study published in Scientific Reports. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

Essentially, the intestine gives priority to glucose absorption, putting uptake of essential nutrients like amino acids and fats in the back of the queue. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025

The hospital previously made social workers and counselors available to unit nurses, but uptake for their services was low, Murray said. —Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025

Kennedy, a notorious vaccine skeptic, is also making early moves that could impact immunization policy and further dampen uptake in the U.S. at a time when childhood vaccination rates are falling. —Amelia Lucas,annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 12 Mar. 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