take-up

noun

\ ˈtāk-ˌəp

Definition of take-up

(Entry 1 of 2)

: the action of taking up

take up

verb

took up; taken up; taking up; takes up

Definition of take up (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : pick up, lift took up the carpet

2a : to begin to occupy (land)

b : to gather from a number of sources took up a collection

3a : to accept or adopt for the purpose of assisting

b : to accept or adopt as one's own took up the life of a farmer

c : to absorb or incorporate into itself plants taking up nutrients

4a : to enter upon (something, such as a business, hobby, or subject of study) take up skiing took up the trumpet

b : to proceed to consider or deal with take up one problem at a time

5 : to establish oneself in took up residence in town

6 : to occupy entirely or exclusively : fill up the meeting was taken up with old business

7 : to make tighter or shorter take up the slack

8 : to respond favorably to (a person offering a bet, challenge, proposal, etc.) took me up on it

9 : to begin again or take over from another we must take the good work up again

intransitive verb

1 : to make a beginning where another has left off

2 : to become shortened : draw together : shrink

take up the cudgels

: to engage vigorously in a defense or dispute

take up with

1 : to become interested or absorbed in

2 : to begin to associate or consort with

Other Words from take-up Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about take-up

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Examples of take-up in a Sentence

Verb

please take up the blanket so I can look underneath it the soil was so dry that the plant seemed to take up the much-needed water instantly

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

This is a restaurant that is also a classroom, a cultural ambassador in itself, with a staff that takes up the task enthusiastically. — Soleil Ho, SFChronicle.com, "The Bay Area’s first Georgian restaurant shines with cheese pulls and chokhas," 15 Aug. 2019 Evers did not call lawmakers into a special legislative session to take up the bill but rather used his bully pulpit to call for the new policy. — Molly Beck, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Tony Evers and Democratic lawmakers roll out bill to expand background checks to most gun sales," 15 Aug. 2019 The match that should take up the biggest chunk of time is Adam Cole vs. Johnny Gargano for the NXT Championship. — Dan Gartland, SI.com, "NXT TakeOver Toronto: Match Card, Start Time, Predictions and More," 10 Aug. 2019 Eliminate or reduce water sources, and clear your yard of ivy, ground cover, weeds and tall grass — places where rats could take up residence. — Joan Morris, The Mercury News, "Are there non-lethal ways of controlling Bay Area’s rat population?," 9 Aug. 2019 Once seen as an issue Connecticut lawmakers could take up quickly to compete with nearby states, sports betting has gotten entangled in the larger negotiations involving the tribes and a new casino. — Russell Blair, courant.com, "Sports betting, a Bridgeport casino and esports at the XL Center. Here’s how expanded gambling could play out in Connecticut.," 6 Aug. 2019 According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, the first reports of the Northern Curlytail taking up residence in South Florida were due to a zoo escape in 1935. — Dan Sweeney, sun-sentinel.com, "Where did all these curlytail lizards come from? | You asked, we answer," 5 Aug. 2019 The rails to be taken up run from downtown Noblesville south through Fishers and into Indianapolis to 38th Street. — John Tuohy, Indianapolis Star, "Rail with trail hopes dashed: Removal of Nickel Plate tracks to begin in 30 days," 1 Aug. 2019 Wedged among bags and cartons of frozen food was the small cardboard box that had taken up space in every freezer in every home the 37-year-old had ever shared with his mother. — oregonlive.com, "His mother kept a cardboard box in the freezer for decades. Inside, he found a ‘mummified’ baby.," 30 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'take-up.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for take-up

take-up

noun

English Language Learners Definition of take-up

British : the rate at which something offered is accepted by people

take up

transitive verb

Medical Definition of take up

: to absorb or incorporate into itself the rate at which the cells took up glucose

take-up

Definition of take-up

Synonyms & Antonyms for take-up

Examples of take-up in a Sentence

First Known Use of take-up

English Language Learners Definition of take-up

Medical Definition of take up

take-up

Definition of take-up

Synonyms & Antonyms for take-up

Examples of take-up in a Sentence

First Known Use of take-up

English Language Learners Definition of take-up

Medical Definition of take up

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