Take Up – Meaning and Examples
Have you ever started learning guitar, accepted a friend’s invitation, or noticed how your new sofa fills the whole living room? In English, all these situations use the phrase take up. This flexible phrasal verb has several key meanings—and knowing them helps you speak naturally in everyday life.
What Does “Take Up” Mean?
“Take up” has three main uses:
1. To start a new hobby, activity, or job (“She took up painting during lockdown.”)
2. To occupy time, space, or attention (“This desk takes up too much room.”)
3. To accept an offer, challenge, or responsibility (“He took up her suggestion to apply for the role.”)
Think of it like beginning something new, filling a space, or saying “yes” to an opportunity. The meaning always depends on context—but it’s never about “taking” and “up” as separate actions.
When to Use It
Use “take up” in casual or neutral conversations:
• For new interests or roles: “I’m thinking of taking up yoga.”
• When something uses space or time: “The meeting took up my whole morning.”
• When accepting something offered: “They took up the manager’s offer to work remotely.”
It’s common in speaking, texts, and everyday writing—great for real-life English. Avoid it in very formal reports unless describing space or time use.
Example Sentences
- After retirement, he took up gardening.
- Your bags are taking up all the space in the trunk!
- She took up the challenge without hesitation.
- Learning a language takes up a lot of mental energy—but it’s worth it.
Mini Dialogue
Alex: “You seem calmer lately. What changed?”
Jamie: “I took up meditation. It’s helped a lot.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t confuse “take up” with “take over” (which means to assume control) or “pick up” (which can mean to learn quickly or lift something). Also, when “take up” means “occupy,” it often refers to physical space or time—not abstract concepts like effort or emotion.
❌ Don’t say: “I took up my friend’s sadness.” (Incorrect usage.)
✅ Do say: “I took up knitting last month.”
✅ Do say: “This project is taking up all my free time.”
Practice Tip
Notice when something starts, fills space, or is accepted—and describe it using “take up.” Say: “I’m taking up drawing,” “This chair takes up too much room,” or “He took up the offer.” Using the phrase in real moments makes it stick.
Final Note
Now you can use “take up” to talk about new beginnings, space, and opportunities—with ease and confidence. It’s a phrase full of real-life action, used daily by native speakers. Keep listening for it in conversations, shows, or news. Every time you hear it, you’re one step closer to fluent, natural English. You’ve got this!