Meaning & use
uptake
Last updated
The action of taking up or absorbing something, such as a substance, idea, or opportunity.
See it in a sentence
Doctors monitored the patient's oxygen uptake during the test.
He's a bit slow on the uptake when it comes to sarcasm.
A note on using this word
The idiom 'quick/slow on the uptake' uses this word to describe how fast someone understands or grasps information.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
the speed or ability with which a person understands or grasps something
He's quick on the uptake and rarely needs things explained twice.
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