adopt vs take up

adopt and take up both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
adopt	No	No	Yes	No
take up	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, take up is a hyponym of adopt; that is, take up is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than adopt:

adopt: take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one's own
take up: adopt

Other hyponyms of adopt include fasten on, hook on, latch on, seize on.

As verbs, adopt and take up are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of adopt include borrow, take over.

adopt (verb)	take up (verb)
take into one's family	pursue or resume
take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect	return to a previous location or condition
take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one's own	adopt
put into dramatic form	take up as if with a sponge
take up and practice as one's own	take out or up with or as if with a scoop
choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans	accept
take on titles, offices, duties, responsibilities	take in, also metaphorically
	take up a liquid or a gas either by adsorption or by absorption
	occupy or take on
	take up and practice as one's own
	begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job
	turn one's interest to
	take up time or space