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

Sprinkle an idiosyncrasy here, a mannerism there, soaked up from seven decades on set. —Thomas Page, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025

Similar to cleaning urine stains, if the blood on your mattress is fresh, then start the process by soaking up excess liquid with a paper towel before cleaning the area. —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025

Consider spending an afternoon at the hot spring–fed tubs at David Walley’s Resort, following the South Lake Tahoe Beer Trail, going for a scenic drive around the lake, taking a snowshoe or cross-country skiing class, or soaking up mountain views from the comfort of a gondola. —Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025

There’s nothing like exploring new places and soaking up different cultures for inspiration. —Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025

Rhymes for soak up

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