take up
High (B1)Neutral to Informal. Common in everyday speech, business, and writing. 'Take up a challenge' is more formal than 'take up knitting'.
Definition
Meaning
To begin a new activity, hobby, or job; to occupy or fill time or space.
To accept an offer or challenge; to shorten a piece of clothing; to discuss or deal with a matter; to resume from a stopping point; to absorb a liquid.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A highly polysemous phrasal verb. The meaning is heavily dependent on the object (take up space/time/a hobby/an issue). Often implies a voluntary commitment or a process of starting.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. British English may use 'take up' slightly more frequently for hobbies. American English might favor 'start' or 'pick up' in casual contexts.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. 'Take up a cause' has a proactive, committed connotation.
Frequency
Equally common and understood in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + take up + [Object (Noun Phrase)][Subject] + take up + [Object] + with + [Person]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “take up the gauntlet”
- “take up arms”
- “take up the slack”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To accept a job or role. 'She will take up the position of CFO in January.'
Academic
To discuss or analyze a topic. 'The next chapter takes up the question of methodology.'
Everyday
To start a hobby. 'I've taken up gardening during lockdown.'
Technical
To absorb or consume resources. 'The new software takes up 2GB of memory.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He decided to take up rugby at university.
- Could we take up the matter of funding next meeting?
- The sofa takes up half the lounge.
American English
- She took up the offer to work in New York.
- I need to take these jeans up at the tailor's.
- The campaign took up most of her energy.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I want to take up swimming.
- The big table takes up a lot of space.
- He took up the guitar last year and is already quite good.
- This new game takes up too much time.
- The manager took up the employee's complaint with the director.
- She was offered a fellowship and took it up immediately.
- The activist took up the cause of environmental justice, dedicating her career to it.
- The seminar will take up the epistemological implications of the study.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine lifting (taking UP) a new tool for the first time to start a project.
Conceptual Metaphor
STARTING IS LIFTING (taking something up into your hands to begin using it). COMMITMENT IS PHYSICAL OCCUPATION (taking up space/time in your life).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'брать вверх'. For hobbies, use 'начинать заниматься'. For space, use 'занимать'. For a job, use 'занимать должность'.
Common Mistakes
- *I took up to play the piano. (Incorrect: 'take up' is followed directly by a noun, not an infinitive. Correct: I took up the piano / playing the piano.)
- *This takes up many time. (Incorrect with uncountable 'time'. Correct: This takes up a lot of time.)
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'take up' used INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can say 'take up a hobby' or 'take a hobby up', though the non-separated form is more common, especially with pronouns ('take it up').
'Take up' often implies a more sustained, committed activity (like a hobby or job) and can mean 'occupy'. 'Start' is more general for any beginning.
Yes, specifically for clothing. 'I need to take up these trousers; they're too long.' This is a different, more literal meaning.
It's commonly used for starting a new job or role ('take up a post'), or for beginning to discuss a topic in a meeting ('take up the next item on the agenda').