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
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
J. K RowlingIn fact I am forming the impression that I am generally a little slow on the uptake. A real lunk, sometimes.—Martin Amis
Martin AmisSuch 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.
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.
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
Science In muscle and adipose tissue, insulin stimulates the uptake, storage, and use of glucose. —David E. Moller et al.
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.
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
Christen Brownlee 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.
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
Bill MachroneThe 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
Peter Coy4
: a flue leading upward
The large uptake or flue pipe between the boilers and the chimney was damaged.—The Record-Argus (Greenville, Pennsylvania)
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
Environmental Patent NewsExamples 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
Tapping into the defense tech startup ecosystem is one way the Defense Department is trying to improve the uptake of new and emerging technologies on the battlefield.
—Emily Hamilton, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024
Much of the focus of the IRA’s impact has been on uptake by the private sector as factories pop up to take advantage of its tax incentives.
—Justin Worland, TIME, 11 Oct. 2024
So far, the Japanese automaker has been very slow on the uptake of electric vehicles, hedging on hybrids instead, and that plan has worked out for it.
—Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik, Quartz, 8 Oct. 2024
The Future of Egg Freezing For now, our data on egg freezing is limited, while the uptake continues to increase.
—Marina Gerner, WIRED, 5 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for uptake 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Emily Hamilton, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024
Much of the focus of the IRA’s impact has been on uptake by the private sector as factories pop up to take advantage of its tax incentives.
—Justin Worland, TIME, 11 Oct. 2024
So far, the Japanese automaker has been very slow on the uptake of electric vehicles, hedging on hybrids instead, and that plan has worked out for it.
—Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik, Quartz, 8 Oct. 2024
The Future of Egg Freezing For now, our data on egg freezing is limited, while the uptake continues to increase.
—Marina Gerner, WIRED, 5 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for uptake
Dictionary Entries Near uptake
Cite this Entry
“Uptake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uptake. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
uptake
noun
up·take
ˈəp-ˌtāk 
1
: understanding entry 1 sense 1, comprehension
quick on the uptake
2
: a process especially in a living organism of absorbing and combining with something
oxygen uptake
Medical Definition
uptake
noun
up·take
ˈəp-ˌtāk
: 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
David E. Moller et al., The New England Journal of MedicineAlthough most tricyclic antidepressants inhibit neuronal uptake of noradrenaline and serotonin, their mechanism of action remains unclear.—Rita Raisman et al., Nature
Rita Raisman et al., NatureLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share