soak up

phrasal verb

soaked up; soaking up; soaks up

1

: to take in (liquid) : absorb

The rag soaked up most of the water.

2

: to enjoy feeling or experiencing (something pleasant) in usually a slow or relaxed way

We went to the beach and soaked up the sun/sunshine all afternoon.

I sat at my table for an hour soaking up the atmosphere of the café.

The performers stood on the stage, soaking up the applause.

3

: to learn and remember (something) quickly

He eagerly soaked up every word she said.

She has an ability to soak up new information very quickly.

4

: to use a large amount of (money, supplies, etc.)

This project is soaking up resources that could be used elsewhere.

Examples of soak up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In Oslo, check out the country’s largest collection of art, architecture, and design at the National Museum, or soak up the wellness benefits of one of the floating saunas on the Oslo fjord, where, in the summer, people lie out in the sun and jump into the crisp water. —Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026

But for seniors who have the time to slow down and settle in to soak up local life, there’s no beating Smithsonian Journeys' Living In programs. —Christine Sarkis, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026

Rich in dynamic biodiversity, the park is the perfect place to escape the bustle of the city and soak up the stunning natural landscape. —Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2026

This allows exposures stretching up to 30 minutes, soaking up huge amounts of light to reveal incredibly faint objects in sharp detail. —New Atlas, 26 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for soak up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup