#1 take up v. pursue or resume; "take up a matter for consideration". wn #2 take up v. adopt; "take up new ideas". wn #3 take up v. turn one's interest to; "He took up herpetology at the age of fifty". wn #4 take up v. take up time or space; "take up the slack". wn #5 take up v. begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job; "Take up a position"; "start a new job". wn