collocation · neutral

take up a hobby

UK/ˌteɪk ˈʌp ə ˈhɒbi/US/ˌteɪk ˈʌp ə ˈhɑːbi/take UP a HOB·by

Band 4-5speakingtask2

Start a new pastime or activity and continue doing it regularly.

Examples

During lockdown many people took up a hobby like baking or drawing.

She decided to take up painting to relax after work.

It's never too late to take up a hobby you enjoy.

Band 8 sentence

After trying different things at university she ultimately took up pottery, which became a steady creative outlet.

Collocations

  • take up painting
  • take up knitting

Word family

take up phrasal verbhobby nhobbyist n

Common mistakes

do a hobbytake up a hobby

start hobbytake up a hobby

Say it for a higher band

5do a hobby6start hobby7+take up a hobby

Synonyms

start a hobby

Easily confused

start a hobby

She started painting during the summer.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Free time & Hobbies

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