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 Eleven Patio New for Jay Peak’s 2025/2026 season, this outdoor watering hole is the perfect place to keep soaking up fresh alpine air long after the sun goes down.
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Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2025
Not only do wildfires destroy vegetation that would normally soak up some of the rainfall, but their extreme heat can alter the soil, creating a water-repellent layer just below the surface.
—Taylor Ward, CNN Money, 14 Nov. 2025
The straw insulates, the alfalfa adds nitrogen to help fuel tiny microorganisms, also called microbes that process the body, and the sawdust soaks up extra moisture.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2025
There’s another 700 square feet of terrace space equipped with loungers, ideal for soaking up all that fresh alpine air and views of the Alps, Lake Geneva, and, across the lake, Lausanne in Switzerland.
—Blane Bachelor, Robb Report, 13 Nov. 2025
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Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2025
Not only do wildfires destroy vegetation that would normally soak up some of the rainfall, but their extreme heat can alter the soil, creating a water-repellent layer just below the surface.
—Taylor Ward, CNN Money, 14 Nov. 2025
The straw insulates, the alfalfa adds nitrogen to help fuel tiny microorganisms, also called microbes that process the body, and the sawdust soaks up extra moisture.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2025
There’s another 700 square feet of terrace space equipped with loungers, ideal for soaking up all that fresh alpine air and views of the Alps, Lake Geneva, and, across the lake, Lausanne in Switzerland.
—Blane Bachelor, Robb Report, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for soak up
Cite this Entry
“Soak up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soak%20up. Accessed 21 Nov. 2025.
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