uptake

noun

up·​take ˈəp-ˌtāk How to pronounce uptake (audio)
plural uptakes
1
: the act or action of grasping with the mind : understanding, comprehension
usually used in the phrases quick on the uptake and slow on the uptake
Djuna was a very haughty lady, quick on the uptake [=quick to learn or understand], and with a wisecracking tongue that I was far too discreet to try and rival.Robert McAlmon
"Unfortunately, I had to hex Kingsley too, or it would have looked very suspicious," said Dumbledore in a low voice. "He was remarkably quick on the uptake, modifying Miss Edgecombe's memory like that while everyone was looking the other way …"J. K Rowling
In fact I am forming the impression that I am generally a little slow on the uptake. A real lunk, sometimes.Martin Amis
Such knowledge of popular cultural lore becomes, in fact, a principal criterion for selecting new creative recruits. No one wants to work with a creative who, like account executives and clients, is slow on the uptake.Robert Jackall et al.
2
: an act or instance of absorbing and incorporating something
Here, we show observations indicating substantial variability in the CO2 uptake by the North Atlantic on time scales of a few years.Andrew J. Watson et al.
especially : the absorption or incorporation of a substance into a living organism, tissue, or cell
Many bacteria communicate with one another through the secretion and uptake of small signaling molecules. Science
In muscle and adipose tissue, insulin stimulates the uptake, storage, and use of glucose. David E. Moller et al.
Although most tricyclic antidepressants inhibit neuronal uptake of noradrenaline and serotonin, their mechanism of action remains unclear. Rita Raisman et al.
Eventually, the roots become grossly misshapen, impeding a plant's uptake of water and nutrients from soil. Christen Brownlee
see also reuptake
3
: the act of using, participating in, adopting, or taking advantage of an available product, service, opportunity, etc.
… increased uptake of colonoscopy was a result of decreased use of other screening modalities rather than an overall increased rate of uptake of colorectal screening.Vickie L. Shavers et al.
In my August column, "Missing the Boat on Broadband," I wondered why broadband uptake has hit a plateau, and I expressed amazement that more people didn't find the offer of ten times the speed at double the cost an attractive proposition.Bill Machrone
The idea, which has floated around for months without getting much uptake from European decision-makers, is to scarf up Greece's unaffordable debt on the open market and exchange it for new, more affordable long-term bonds issued by a (presumably) reformed Greek government.Peter Coy
4
: a flue leading upward
The large uptake or flue pipe between the boilers and the chimney was damaged.The Record-Argus (Greenville, Pennsylvania)
… in the nickel smelting process, an uptake flue is monitored, when the volume percentage of oxygen is more than 3%, nitrogen is used as carrier gas to blow the deoxidizer …Environmental Patent News

Examples of uptake in a Sentence

oxygen uptake by the body the plant's uptake of water a rapid uptake of liquid She's pretty quick on the uptake.
Recent Examples on the Web Richardson says there has been some uptake of her suggestions, but mostly by smaller companies or those outside of the core software business that are still jousting for the technical talent—industries like retail, manufacturing, biotech, and financial services. Lauren Goode, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2024 Kansas has also experienced an uptake in STI cases over the past decade — on par with a national trend that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified as a public health crisis — and has significantly higher rates of syphilis. Jenna Barackman, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2024 Another factor hurting uptake appears to be the long list of medications that shouldn’t be taken with Paxlovid. Kenya Hunter, Fortune Well, 7 Feb. 2024 Despite relatively low uptake, the report’s findings were encouraging, the authors write, because the level of awareness was higher than in previous studies. Theresa Gaffney and Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 25 Jan. 2024 Even for non-coders, these findings—and the rapid uptake of Copilot—are potentially instructive. Will Knight, WIRED, 8 Feb. 2024 The nutrients decompose and are released slowly for plant uptake with water and an increase in soil temperature. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 2024 Home-broadband uptake was highest in suburban areas, at 86%, with 77% of urban residents reporting high-speed access and just 73% of people in rural areas saying the same. Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 31 Jan. 2024 The paper was partially retracted in 2004, but by then vaccine uptake had dipped to 81%. Patrick Smith, NBC News, 25 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'uptake.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Scots uptake to understand

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of uptake was in 1816

Dictionary Entries Near uptake

Cite this Entry

“Uptake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uptake. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

uptake

noun
up·​take ˈəp-ˌtāk How to pronounce uptake (audio)
1
2
: a process especially in a living organism of absorbing and combining with something
oxygen uptake

Medical Definition

uptake

noun
up·​take ˈəp-ˌtāk How to pronounce uptake (audio)
: an act or instance of absorbing or incorporating something especially into a living organism, tissue, or cell
In muscle and adipose tissue, insulin stimulates the uptake, storage, and use of glucose.David E. Moller et al., The New England Journal of Medicine
Although most tricyclic antidepressants inhibit neuronal uptake of noradrenaline and serotonin, their mechanism of action remains unclear.Rita Raisman et al., Nature

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