Meaning & use
take up
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To start doing a hobby, activity, or job regularly.
Grammar: Takes an object: take up swimming. The object can also go between take and up with pronouns: take it up.
Patterns
- take up something
- take something up
- take up a hobby
She took up painting after she retired.
He wants to take up a new sport this summer.
I took up running to get fit.
verbtransitive
To fill or use an amount of time or space.
Grammar: Often used with time or space: The table takes up too much room.
Patterns
- take up time
- take up space
- take up room
This sofa takes up half the living room.
The meeting took up most of the morning.
Her books take up three shelves.
verbtransitive
To accept an offer, invitation, or suggestion.
Grammar: Often used in the phrase take someone up on something: I'll take you up on that offer.
Patterns
- take up an offer
- take someone up on something
She took up the job offer without hesitation.
I might take you up on that invitation to dinner.
He took up the challenge and finished the race.
verbtransitive
To shorten a piece of clothing by folding and sewing the hem.
Grammar: Often used about trousers or skirts: take up the hem.
Patterns
- take up a hem
- take up trousers
The tailor took up the trousers so they fit better.
Can you take up this skirt a little?
verbtransitiveformal
To begin to discuss or deal with something, especially after a pause.
Grammar: Often used in formal writing: take up the matter with someone.
Patterns
- take up a matter
- take up an issue
I will take up the matter with the manager.
The committee took up the question at its next meeting.
Word forms
| third person singular | takes up |
|---|---|
| past tense | took up |
| past participle | taken up |
| -ing form | taking up |
Common combinations
- take up a hobby
- He took up a hobby to relax after work.
- take up space
- Old furniture was taking up space in the garage.
- take up an offer
- She decided to take up the offer of a free trial.
- take up the challenge
- The team took up the challenge and won the game.
- take up a matter
- I'll take up the matter with the customer service team.
Synonyms and how they differ
- start
- Start is more general; take up is used for hobbies and activities you begin doing regularly.
- occupy
- Occupy is more formal and often used for space or time: The desk occupies the corner.
- accept
- Accept is neutral; take up is used for offers and invitations, often with up on.
Opposites
Word family
- take-up noun
- The rate at which people accept or use something, e.g. the take-up of new benefits.
Commonly confused: take up or take out? take up or take on?
take up vs take out
Take out means to remove something or to get food from a restaurant; take up means to start a hobby or fill space.
take up vs take on
Take on means to accept work or responsibility, or to hire someone; take up is about starting an activity or using space.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'take up' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Take up means to start a hobby or activity, so 'took up a new hobby' is correct. The other options use take up with the wrong meaning; for example, you pick up a book or phone, and postpone a meeting.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “take up”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.