take up
phrasal verb·5 senses·particle up
Meanings
Start a new hobby or activity
Why “up”? A new thing appears or is made.
“I want to take up yoga this year.”
“He took up painting last winter.”
“He's thinking of taking up the guitar.”
Occupy space or time
Why “up”? Filling to the top. Reaching the upper limit means finishing.
“This sofa takes up too much room.”
“The meeting took up the whole afternoon.”
“The new wardrobe takes up a whole wall.”
Accept an offered opportunity
“She took up his offer of help.”
“He took up the offer of a free trial.”
“They took up the invitation to dinner.”
Resume something after a pause or interruption
“We took up the discussion where we left off.”
“Let's take this up after lunch.”
Shorten a piece of clothing by adjusting its hem
“She took the trousers up by an inch.”
“The tailor took up the sleeves.”
Memory hook
You pick the activity up and make it part of your life.
Common mistake
I want to take up to paint.
I want to take up painting.
After take up, use the -ing form or a noun.
Natural collocations
The word partners “take up” most often appears with — learn the phrase, not just the verb.
Don't confuse with
Take up means start a new activity. Take out means remove something from inside.
Take up means occupy space or time. Take down means remove something from a higher position.
Take up means accept an offered opportunity. Take on means accept a responsibility or challenge.
Test yourself
“I want to take up yoga this year.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
take back
A contrast learners often mix up
Reclaim something you gave; Retract a statement; Carry something back to where it came from; Make someone remember a past time vividly; Re-employ or accept a person again
take down
A contrast learners often mix up
Remove something from a higher position; Write notes quickly; Defeat someone or remove something from operation
take on
A contrast learners often mix up
Accept a responsibility or challenge; Employ new staff; Compete against
take out
A contrast learners often mix up
Remove something from inside; Invite someone to go somewhere socially; Borrow from a library
add up
Same up pattern: finishing
Combine into a larger total; Make sense or seem true
break up
Same up pattern: finishing
Break into pieces; End a relationship or gathering
build up
Same up pattern: making
Gradually increase in amount, strength or intensity; Develop or strengthen something over time; Make someone or something seem more important or impressive than they are; Encourage or strengthen someone emotionally; Create momentum towards a moment or event
call up
Same up pattern: finishing
Telephone someone; Order someone to join military service; Display information on a screen or computer; Bring a memory or feeling vividly to mind; Select a player for a higher-level team
Tell it apart
Side-by-side comparisons with the verbs learners most often confuse for “take up”.
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