take up

phrasal verb transitive

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	take up
he/she/it	takes up
present participle	taking up
past tense	took up
past participle	taken up

1
to start doing something regularly as a habit, job, or interest
I took up smoking when I was at school.
Chris has taken up jogging.
take up a post/position:
The new surgeon will take up her post in May.
Synonyms and related words
To start doing something
start on
begin
set about
Synonyms and related words
Habits and habitual behaviour
habit
routine
daily life
2
to fill a particular amount of space or time
These files take up a lot of disk space.
I’ll try not to take up too much of your time.
Synonyms and related words
To fill a thing or place
fill
cram
stuff
3
(take up something) to accept an offer or a challenge (=an offer to fight or compete) that someone has made to you
Schools are taking up the offer of cut-price computers.
One of our greatest athletes has taken up a new challenge.
Synonyms and related words
To take part in a competition or game
play
race
meet
4
to reduce the length of a piece of clothing or some curtains
Synonyms and related words
To sew, or to sew something
sew
mend
stitch
5
to continue to discuss or deal with an idea, problem, or suggestion
She fell silent, and her brother took up the story.
Mrs Pankhurst took up the cause of women’s rights.
Synonyms and related words
To discuss something
discuss
consider
talk
6
take up armsformalto start a battle using weapons
Would you be willing to take up arms for this cause?
Synonyms and related words
To attack with weapons or bombs
attack
bayonet
be bombed out (of something)
7
take up residenceformalto start living somewhere
Mice have taken up residence under their floorboards.
Synonyms and related words
To live, stay or work in a particular place
live
arrive
settle down