uptake

[ uhp-teyk ]

noun

1. apprehension; understanding or comprehension; mental grasp:

   quick on the uptake.

2. an act or instance of taking up; a lifting:

   the uptake of fertilizer by machines.

3. Also called take-up. Machinery. a pipe or passage leading upward from below, as for conducting smoke or a current of air.
4. Physiology. absorption.

uptake

/ ˈʌpˌteɪk /

noun

1. a pipe, shaft, etc, that is used to convey smoke or gases, esp one that connects a furnace to a chimney
2. mining another term for upcast
3. taking up or lifting up
4. the act of accepting or taking up something on offer or available
5. quick on the uptake informal.
   quick to understand or learn
6. slow on the uptake informal.
   slow to understand or learn

Word History and Origins

Origin of uptake¹

1810–20; up- + take; compare take-up

Idioms and Phrases

see on the uptake .

Example Sentences

Counties that voted Republican had significantly more deaths from COVID-19 than counties that voted Democratic, in part due to reduced vaccine uptake.

From Salon

During the pandemic, counties that voted majority Republican had significantly more deaths than counties that voted Democratic, in part due to reduced vaccine uptake.

From Salon

Homeowners in the most flood-prone areas are required to buy this policy, but uptake has been lagging in some particularly vulnerable inland communities — including those that were recently devastated by Hurricane Helene.

From Salon

A study at the University of Bath used data from 40,000 households across the UK, and found paternal leave uptake has not increased, and the time off being taken are not longer.

From BBC

Adams says that a big concern is the very poor recent uptake in vaccination.

From Salon

Related Words

• awareness
• grasp
• insight
• intelligence
• judgment
• knowledge
• perception
• realization
• recognition
• sense