# take sth up

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/take-sth-up
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to start a new hobby, sport, or activity.

For teachers: to begin a new pursuit or interest; can also refer to occupying a specific amount of space or time.

## Examples

- I decided to take up yoga to help me relax.
- After he retired, he took up gardening and spent every morning in his backyard.
- The new grand piano takes up far too much space in the living room, but she refuses to move it.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I took up to play tennis." but "I took up tennis." — the verb is followed by a noun or a gerund, not an infinitive with 'to'.

## Usage notes

- usually followed by a noun representing a hobby or a physical space.
- Teaching tip: focus on the 'starting a hobby' sense first as it is most common at B1; later introduce the 'occupying space' sense to show how the verb scales.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.