taken up

Definition of taken upnext
past participle of take up
1
2
as in absorbed
to take in (something liquid) through small openings the soil was so dry that the plant seemed to take up the much-needed water instantly

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of taken up So my attention was taken up with wiping off the counter and the tiles, and remaking the coffee. Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025 His wife, Erika Kirk, has since taken up the mantel of spearheading his organization, Turning Point USA, and has committed to keeping his legacy alive. Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025 This simple idea, of searching for an answer, can be taken up a level — to much, much bigger maps, and to much harder problems than navigation, such as solving a complex puzzle or proving difficult mathematical theorems. Big Think, 4 Nov. 2025 However, this time it is taken up a notch by adding egg noodles, making for a tasty and complete meal with little hands-on time. Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 4 Nov. 2025 The legislation already passed the Senate in April with a 51-48 vote, but was not taken up by the House. Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 29 Oct. 2025 However, those efforts petered out in 2023 and haven’t been taken up since. Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025 News round-up Frenkie de Jong has taken up a new contract at Barca, running to 2029. Phil Hay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 However, the World Health Organization says the two-drug regimen can be taken up until the 12-week mark of pregnancy. Cheyenne Haslett, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taken up
Verb
  • This is the type of snow that will get lifted by the wind, and gusts of up to 35 mph are expected.
    Caroline Silva, AJC.com, 31 Jan. 2026
  • My body often shut down and I was overcome with anxiety and depression, unable to eat or sleep, hiding away in a dark room for days until the pain lifted.
    Fatima Bhutto, Vogue, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • As wonderfully portrayed by Buric, the Wonder Man reboot’s director is every European artiste absorbed into the American studio system cut with a dose of Werner Herzog’s gloom; his mansion could be a museum of Hollywood Regency decadence.
    Judy Berman, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Starship is capital-intensive and when packaged with an already cash-generating business like Starlink, the risk can be absorbed within a single public entity.
    Sasirekha Subramanian, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • While on the runway the dress was blue and black with a trompe-l’œil design, Robbie’s look leaned into more Victorian-era flourishes, with a laced strapless bodice and an onyx and scarlet red gradient petal skirt, striking colors which borrowed from other styles in the show.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026
  • In Naples, Lobotka became a regista, the Italian term for a ‘six’ borrowed from cinema.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Republicans, who hold a super-minority in the Legislature and have long raised concerns about taxes and regulations overburdening California businesses, will likely oppose any tax bills.
    Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Funds raised during the 2025 Grammy Awards telecast, MusiCares’ Persons of the Year event and additional fundraising efforts were used to help deal with housing instability, interrupted income, physical health complications and ongoing trauma.
    David Wilson, Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Yet, as uproar over the shooting grew, videos of the incident spread and the administration's narrative unraveled, the White House changed course and adopted a more conciliatory approach.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 30 Jan. 2026
  • According to city records uncovered in Wright’s lawsuit and reviewed by The Times, Valerio had been marked for euthanasia for dangerous behavior in April 2022, four months before Wright adopted him.
    Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The Super Bowl ad is the latest move by a president and administration that have fully embraced professional sports as a prime venue to deliver their message.
    Max Tani, semafor.com, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Gonzalez also embraced the trend, wearing a sheer black corset top of her own.
    Meg Walters, InStyle, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • In recent years, Jimin has also ventured out independently and taken on new projects.
    Kelsey Lentz, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Suplee has spent the past several years documenting his transformation on his podcast, American Glutton, and across social media, where his second career as a fitness influencer has taken on a life of its own.
    Mike Wehner, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Taken up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taken%20up. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

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