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 The condition was originally identified as the reason why some people who’d had GI surgery or a digestive disease developed malabsorption (or failed to soak up nutrients from food). Erica Sloan, SELF, 24 Oct. 2024 But for a more comprehensive clean, use a crevice tool along the edges and scatter baking soda or cornstarch onto the mattress (to soak up odors or oils) before vacuuming and use the crevice tool along the edges. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2024 Popular on Variety For now, though, Monáe is soaking up the horror vibes during the one month of the year where wearing a Chucky mask to bed might actually be socially acceptable. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 17 Oct. 2024 Blot the stain: Dab the stained area gently with a clean cloth to soak up as much of the stain as possible. Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for soak up 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'soak up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Dictionary Entries Near soak up

Cite this Entry

“Soak up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soak%20up. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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