1
as in to lift
to move from a lower to a higher place or position
please take up the blanket so I can look underneath it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to borrow
to take for one's own use (something originated by another)
one cluster of fans started chanting the team name of the champions, and the crowd quickly took up the cry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of take up
The only way this will get fixed is if some influential outside entities, such as newspapers, take up the cause.
—
Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
The players were all in their 80s; some had played professionally, while others took up the sport later in life.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
The Colorado Supreme Court issues roughly 60 to 100 opinions annually, and in most situations, the justices have the discretion to choose whether or not to take up a case.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2026
Instead of taking up that bill, the House Budget Committee offers its own.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for take up
Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
The players were all in their 80s; some had played professionally, while others took up the sport later in life.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
The Colorado Supreme Court issues roughly 60 to 100 opinions annually, and in most situations, the justices have the discretion to choose whether or not to take up a case.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2026
Instead of taking up that bill, the House Budget Committee offers its own.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for take up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for take up
Verb
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Takaichi has pledged to revise security and defense policies by December to bolster Japan's military capabilities, lifting a ban on lethal weapons exports and moving further away from postwar pacifist principles.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
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Several profit reports from companies helped to lift stocks Wednesday.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The hanging quickly devolves into an all-out bacchanal, as onlookers drink, dance and kiss in the square surrounding the flailing corpse.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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The appeal was lost on holdovers accustomed to drivers rough around the edges, with a Southern drawl, drinking a beer in Victory Lane.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Offered in a range of stripes and saturated solids, the relaxed cut delivers borrowed-from-the-boys ease with an A-line silhouette that’s only slightly oversized.—
Minty Mellon,
Vogue,
16 Feb. 2026
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In addition to emptying a reserves fund and borrowing from a retiree health fund, district electeds agreed to reduce staffing, merge two middle schools, and end the kindergarten through eighth grade model, according to a Fiscal Solvency Plan trustees adopted Wednesday.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The health care company also raised its forecast range for profit this fiscal year.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
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In the wake of Bad Bunny's halftime show selection in September, many critics raised concerns about a potential language barrier for English-language viewers.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Jim's stock market commentary , market analysis , stock pick breakdowns , and Club Members' Mailbag offer an MBA-caliber finance education that is easy to absorb and apply to your personal investing strategies.—
,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
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Yet its polarizing effect may be the key to its magnetism; even those who dislike it have certainly absorbed some of its fragrant dolorousness into their bones.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Some studies have poured cold water over how capable AI truly is and how quickly it’s being adopted.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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The agency's statement added that this constitutes offenses punishable under national and international laws, as well as under policies on moderation adopted by major digital platforms.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Locally, that mindset can normalize police militarization, limit free expression and elevate private interests over the public.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Feb. 2026
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Their playoff run ended in heartbreak (a 33-30 overtime loss to Denver), and the offseason brought major change, with Sean McDermott out and Joe Brady elevated.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But the backlash suggests On This Day… is still somewhat ahead of its time, and that viewers don’t want revered storytellers embracing artificial intelligence.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
5 Feb. 2026
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The professional wrestling company has also attracted a larger Latino fan base in recent years by embracing Mexican luchadores and the Latino wrestling tradition.—
Isabel Yip,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Take up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/take%20up. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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