Take Up (Verb)
Meaning 1
Take up time or space; "take up the slack".
Classification
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations.
Examples
- The broken machine took up a lot of space in the garage that could have been used for storage.
- The unnecessary bureaucracy took up more time than it saved.
- The ropes will take up the slack in the sail.
- As my workload increased, I had to drop some activities to take up more tasks related to my job.
- Extra pillows took up a lot of space on the crowded sofa.
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
Return to a previous location or condition; "The painting resumed its old condition when we restored it".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The city will take up its usual pace once the holidays are over.
- After several months of renovations, the old mansion will take up its former glory.
- As the weather clears, the town will take up its normal activities once again.
- The company looks forward to taking up its usual operations in the new location.
- The local economy will slowly start to take up its previous level of production.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 3
Pursue or resume; "take up a matter for consideration".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The committee will take up the proposal for discussion at the next meeting.
- She decided to take up the matter with her boss in person.
- The city council decided to take up the issue of downtown redevelopment.
- The company will take up the study of alternative energy sources this quarter.
- The leader plans to take up the concerns of local residents during the town hall meeting.
Hypernyms
Meaning 4
Accept; "The cloth takes up the liquid".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- The sponge takes up the spill on the floor quickly.
- The new fabric is designed to take up moisture and keep you dry.
- The porous material takes up the fragrance of the flowers.
- This special paper takes up the excess ink from the fountain pen.
- A paper towel can take up small amounts of spillage effectively.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 5
Take up and practice as one's own.
Classification
Verbs of buying, selling, owning.
Examples
- She decided to take up painting as a hobby after retiring from her job.
- The community came together to take up the challenge and clean up the local park.
- He was inspired by his grandmother's recipe and decided to take up baking as a profession.
- The charity organization was determined to take up the cause and raise awareness about education for underprivileged children.
- After years of struggle, she finally found the courage to take up the fight for women's rights in her country.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 6
Take up as if with a sponge.
Classification
Verbs of eating and drinking.
Examples
- The paper towels will take up the liquid quickly and efficiently, making cleanup easier.
- Moisture from the air causes the paint to take up and become sticky to touch.
- The porous rock is designed to take up and store the oil spilling on it.
- It's recommended to use a dry cloth to take up as much of the spilled drink as you can before it seeps deeper into the carpet.
- The absorbent product claims to take up to three times more water than regular materials.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 7
Adopt; "take up new ideas".
Classification
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting.
Examples
- Companies can take up new sustainable practices in order to reduce their environmental footprint.
- She decided to take up meditation as a way to manage stress and improve her mental well-being.
- The charity aims to take up the cause of environmental conservation to protect wildlife habitats.
- The young artist was encouraged to take up photography as a means of expressing herself creatively.
- By reading books outside her comfort zone, she was able to take up new perspectives on different cultures.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 8
Turn one's interest to; "He took up herpetology at the age of fifty".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- She took up photography after moving to the country and found it to be a great way to express herself.
- As a young adult, he took up painting and eventually showcased his work at local galleries.
- After retiring, the couple took up gardening and spent most of their days tending to their beautiful yard.
- She took up competitive swimming in her late thirties and found that it improved her overall well-being.
- He took up cooking classes on weekends and discovered a new passion for trying new recipes.
Meaning 9
Begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job; "Take up a position"; "start a new job".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- She will take up her new post as CEO of the company next month.
- I'm excited to take up the job offer and move to New York.
- He decided to take up the position of financial manager at a law firm.
- After completing her education, she will take up the role of marketing manager.
- She has been asked to take up a position on the company's board of directors.
Synonyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 10
Take in, also metaphorically; "The sponge absorbs water well"; "She drew strength from the minister's words".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- She gained inspiration from her parents and took up their passion for art and music.
- Plants take up sunlight through the process of photosynthesis.
- Her novel took up the themes of social justice and inequality.
- Countries with large refugee populations will take up the issue at the summit.
- People often take up meditation to calm their minds and cope with stress.
Synonyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 11
Take out or up with or as if with a scoop; "scoop the sugar out of the container".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- The chef took up a large scoop of soup to serve the first guest in line.
- Take up the water with the cupped hand to splash your face.
- She reached into the ice cream container and took up a small amount to taste the flavor.
- Use the slotted spoon to take up the vegetables and transfer them to the colander.
- Please take up a small scoop of the substance and place it on the slide for further analysis.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 12
Take up a liquid or a gas either by adsorption or by absorption.
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- Zeolites can take up gases such as nitrogen and oxygen due to their high internal surface area.
- A sponge can take up a large amount of water when submerged in it.
- Activated carbon is commonly used to take up pollutants and toxins in air and water.
- Silica gel is a type of desiccant designed to take up moisture from the air to keep areas dry.
- Some materials can take up large amounts of gaseous carbon dioxide through their porous structures.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 13
Occupy or take on; "He assumes the lotus position"; "She took her seat on the stage"; "We took our seats in the orchestra"; "She took up her position behind the tree"; "strike a pose".
Classification
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.
Examples
- She took up her position as the CEO of the company with confidence and poise.
- The model took up the classic pose of the Victorian-era portraits on display.
- The protesters took up positions on either side of the street, holding their signs.
- He carefully took up his position by the door, waiting for the perfect moment to take action.
- The conductor took up his usual position at the podium, preparing for the performance.