take up meaning and examples thumbnail

take up meaning and examples

2025-10-03

Meaning

The phrasal verb “take up” has several meanings depending on context:

  1. To start doing a new activity or hobby (e.g., She took up painting last year.)
  2. To occupy space, time, or attention (e.g., This table takes up too much room.)
  3. To accept an offer, challenge, or responsibility (e.g., He took up the manager’s proposal.)
  4. To continue after an interruption (e.g., Let’s take up where we left off.)

Grammar and Usage

  • Part of speech: Phrasal verb

  • Verb type: Transitive (usually requires an object)

  • Patterns:

    • take up + activity/hobby
    • take up + space/time
    • take up + offer/challenge
    • take up + with (someone) → to discuss something with someone

Common Phrases

  • take up a hobby
  • take up a challenge
  • take up an issue with someone
  • take up a position

Collocations

  • take up space/time
  • take up residence
  • take up a cause
  • take up responsibility
  • take up arms (to fight)

Examples

  1. She decided to take up yoga to improve her health.
  2. This couch takes up too much space in the living room.
  3. He took up the challenge and finished the marathon.
  4. The teacher said we would take up the lesson after the break.
  5. I will take up the matter with the manager tomorrow.
  6. They took up residence in a small cottage by the sea.
  7. The soldiers were forced to take up arms against the invaders.
  8. After graduation, he took up a position as an engineer.
  • begin, start, commence
  • occupy, consume, engage
  • accept, embrace

Antonym

  • give up (to quit or stop doing something)
  • leave
  • reject