noun
Uncommon
uptake
UHP-tayk
Uptake (noun) means the ability to understand or grasp something quickly. Example: “He's quick on the uptake and rarely needs things explained twice.”
noun
1
The ability to understand or grasp something quickly.
"He's quick on the uptake and rarely needs things explained twice."
"She was slow on the uptake and missed the joke entirely."
2
The absorption of something, such as a nutrient or drug, into the body or a system.
"The plant's uptake of water increases in warmer weather."
3
How widely a new idea, product, or practice is adopted.
"Uptake of the new software was slower than the company expected."
How to use uptake
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow quickly someone understands something, how much something absorbs, or how widely something gets adopted, depending on context.
Common pairings
quick on the uptake
slow on the uptake
uptake of a new technology
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Word forms
- Plural
- uptakes
- Third person singular
- uptakes
- Past tense
- uptook, uptaken
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He's quick on the _____ and rarely needs things explained twice.
Etymology
From Middle English uptaken, "to take up" — built from up + take.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for uptake
See all rhymes for uptake →Frequently asked questions
What does “uptake” mean?
The word “uptake” means the ability to understand or grasp something quickly. In plain terms, how quickly someone understands something, how much something absorbs, or how widely something gets adopted, depending on context.
How do you pronounce “uptake”?
“Uptake” is pronounced UHP-tayk (/ˈʌpteɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “uptake” in a sentence?
Here is “uptake” used in a sentence: “He's quick on the uptake and rarely needs things explained twice.”
What part of speech is “uptake”?
“Uptake” is a noun.
Where does the word “uptake” come from?
The word “uptake” comes from Middle English. From Middle English uptaken, "to take up" — built from up + take.
Is “uptake” a common word?
“Uptake” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “uptake” have?
“Uptake” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the ability to understand or grasp something quickly.
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