1
as in lifted
to move from a lower to a higher place or position
please take up the blanket so I can look underneath it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in borrowed
to take for one's own use (something originated by another)
one cluster of fans started chanting the team name of the champions, and the crowd quickly took up the cry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of taken up
Politics consequently occupies much of the space for leftists that is usually taken up by family, religion, career and community for conservatives.
—
Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
Most of the home is arranged on one floor and a good chunk of the available floorspace is taken up by an open living/dining area.
—Adam Williams
march 22, New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2026
History of Wimberley Established as a trading post by settlers in 1848, the area was previously home to Native Americans and later frequented by Spanish conquistadors who had taken up in nearby San Antonio.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
Since the 2022 Games in Beijing, the Chinese government announced that around 313 million people had taken up ice and snow sports, or related leisure activities.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
The former prince spirited off from the Royal Lodge in the middle of the night and has reportedly taken up residence in a cottage in Sandringham.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 7 Feb. 2026
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
Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
Most of the home is arranged on one floor and a good chunk of the available floorspace is taken up by an open living/dining area.
—Adam Williams
march 22, New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2026
History of Wimberley Established as a trading post by settlers in 1848, the area was previously home to Native Americans and later frequented by Spanish conquistadors who had taken up in nearby San Antonio.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
Since the 2022 Games in Beijing, the Chinese government announced that around 313 million people had taken up ice and snow sports, or related leisure activities.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
The former prince spirited off from the Royal Lodge in the middle of the night and has reportedly taken up residence in a cottage in Sandringham.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 7 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taken up
Verb
-
Many commenters questioned why the ban on transfusions wasn't lifted entirely for one of the same reasons cited by Lösch regarding the use of one's own blood, that the Bible doesn't comment on it.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Raging waters lifted homes and cars and prompted evacuation orders for 5,500 people north of Honolulu.—
Jennifer Sinco Kelleher,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And Rubio absorbed the Cuban exiles’ uncompromising stances.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Some consumers may be concerned that aluminum, when absorbed into the body, can affect estrogen receptors in breast cells.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Depending on how bad the pest ruined plants in a particular latitude, the farmer either made it financially, or borrowed more from the bank to eat during the winter.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The ring was borrowed from a co-worker, while the other three devices were provided by the companies for testing.—
Brian Cheung,
NBC news,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Operations at LaGuardia Airport were abruptly halted early Monday after a late-night runway collision between a regional passenger aircraft and an emergency vehicle raised safety concerns at one of the busiest air hubs in the United States.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Mar. 2026
-
While both did not hit the island, the strike raised concerns that Iran’s missile range is potentially far greater than was previously thought, given Diego Garcia is well over 2,000 miles away from Iran.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Mikala grew up taking annual family trips to Austin to visit her grandmother, an Austinite since 1975, and has fully adopted the Texas lifestyle since moving to the Lone Star State in 2018.—
Mikala Compton,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
-
In fact, since the gas tax was adopted in 1929, Massachusetts has never suspended the gas tax.—
David Wade,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Latin American fans have seemingly embraced the influence of K-pop acts, with their refined aesthetic presentation, flashy performances, and potent messages of self-acceptance.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
22 Mar. 2026
-
In a 90-minute concert full of screens and special effects, the immensely successful rapper-songwriter embraced spicy sexuality on her own terms.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Her husband has taken on a second job and is now working seven days a week to help the family make ends meet.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
-
That competition has increasingly taken on geopolitical overtones.—
Ray Mwayera,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taken up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taken%20up. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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