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

Kilday shared that some of her favorite activities on the island are hunting for shark teeth and seashells, watching pelicans dive for their next meal, and soaking up the peaceful views of boats drifting across the horizon. —Abby Price, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026

In photos obtained by the Daily Mail, the actor couple was pictured soaking up the sun and sharing a sweet kiss in the ocean at Miami Beach, Florida. —Meg Walters, InStyle, 17 Feb. 2026

Cacti can also be set in a saucer or sink of water and allowed to soak up water slowly through the pot’s drainage holes and into the soil. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2026

Writer-director Knight, meanwhile, is soaking up the buzz that accompanies an Oscar nomination. —Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026

Rhymes for soak up

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