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
Whether you’re drawn to the story of the Titanic, intrigued by the legacy of The Troubles, or simply want to soak up the buzz of a city rapidly reinventing itself, Belfast delivers one of the most thought-provoking port days in the British Isles.
—
David Nikel, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Popovich, then in his late 30s, soaked up knowledge from Brown, competed in intramural basketball and offered life-changing advice to a graduate assistant named Bill Bayno.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Fergie Jenkins soaks up the adoration as the Chicago Cubs unveil his statue outside Wrigley Field
When Fergie Jenkins attended the statue dedication ceremonies for his former Chicago Cubs teammates at Wrigley Field, the thought had to cross his mind.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2025
From a terminal far out of harm’s way, drone pilots could hover in the sky for hours, soaking up surveillance information, building a case for precisely whom to bomb and when to do it.
—Colin Jones, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for soak up
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David Nikel, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Popovich, then in his late 30s, soaked up knowledge from Brown, competed in intramural basketball and offered life-changing advice to a graduate assistant named Bill Bayno.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Fergie Jenkins soaks up the adoration as the Chicago Cubs unveil his statue outside Wrigley Field
When Fergie Jenkins attended the statue dedication ceremonies for his former Chicago Cubs teammates at Wrigley Field, the thought had to cross his mind.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2025
From a terminal far out of harm’s way, drone pilots could hover in the sky for hours, soaking up surveillance information, building a case for precisely whom to bomb and when to do it.
—Colin Jones, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 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 May. 2025.
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