| Phrasal verb | Main meaning |
|---|---|
take up [teɪk ʌp] | to begin a new activity or hobby |
Other meanings
- to occupy space or time
- to accept an offer or challenge
- to resume or restart something
- to discuss or deal with an issue
Example Sentences Using the Phrasal Verb "take up"
- I decided to take up painting during the holidays.
I started learning painting. - This sofa takes up too much space.
It occupies too much room. - She took up the manager’s proposal.
She accepted the offer. - Let’s take up where we left off.
Let’s continue from the last point. - We’ll take up this issue at the next meeting.
We’ll address this topic later.
Features of Using "take up"
- “Take up” is very commonly used when talking about new hobbies or challenges.
- Often used metaphorically with abstract subjects: take up time, take up energy, take up responsibility.
- The object (e.g. “painting”) often comes between take and up: take painting up is grammatically okay, but take up painting is much more natural.
🔗 Learn more about the irregular verb take, including its forms and usage.