to take up
224
3.4
- phrasal verb
- /teɪk ʌp/
:
empezar
- So Faye thought, I will take up painting, which she did.
- take up the challenge
- take up farming
- take up the task
Like I want to start taking up like fashion and stuff.
- Like I want to start taking up like fashion and stuff.
- And some of us took up cooking or making bread.
- So Faye thought, I will take up painting, which she did.
- We took up pickleball, we took up disc golf.
- I've took up golf, I've took up clay pigeon shooting.
Examples
-
You're gonna take up dancing full-time?
-
You know, I'll take up golf.
-
Like I want to start taking up like fashion and stuff.
-
Were you taking up bible study?
-
And some of us took up cooking or making bread.
-
Finally, Dina decided to study more and take up classes at a college for teachers.
Academic text (2008) -
We took up pickleball, we took up disc golf.
-
Many Mikea are beginning to sedentarize and take up agriculture as a primary subsistence pursuit.
Academic text (1991) -
She decided to take up painting as a new hobby to express her creativity.
-
After retiring, he chose to take up gardening to stay active and enjoy nature.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To begin an action, event or process
∞
1.0
To start an activity, event, or speech
∞
1.0
Move into a position or seat
481
1.8
To begin doing something, for example a task or meeting
440
3.2
To start using a new idea, method, or policy
107
3.8
To begin either to like someone or to do something regularly as a habit
95
4.2
To start a new project, activity or journey that is often big and difficult
21
3.4
To start doing something in a determined way
16
3.2
To begin a new business or project
1
6.5
To quickly accept an idea and focus on it
Antonyms
How Committed
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to begin or start an activity' is only partly derivable from combining 'take' (to grasp/assume) with 'up' (a directional/particle), because the sense is a metaphorical extension of 'lifting into action' rather than a literal composition. As a common phrasal-verb pattern in English, it is somewhat guessable but not fully predictable for a B1 learner without prior exposure, and cross-linguistic equivalents vary.
Etymology
Take up comes from the idea of taking something into your hands and beginning it, like picking up a paintbrush to start to paint or accepting a job and starting work. That's why it means 'to begin' or start a job, activity, hobby, or role.