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 As a result, a large portion of an electric aircraft’s weight and payload capacity would be taken up by batteries, restricting most all-electric designs to ranges of less than 150 nm (172 miles, 278 km). David Szondy march 07, New Atlas, 7 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taken up
Verb
  • Pirovano's 100 race points lifted her atop the downhill standings, 36 ahead of Vonn who was pursuing a remarkable ninth career season-long downhill title at age 41.
    ABC News, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
  • More than 300 hopefuls all stretched, leaped, and lifted during the open tryouts inside Merritt Clubs Downtown Athletic Club— hoping to make the cut.
    Janay Reece, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Day, a bridge engineer who moved to the area from England in 1998, has absorbed the part that the bridge played in his in-laws’ history.
    Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Some businesses absorbed the tariffs, at least initially, cutting into margins to avoid sudden price hikes.
    Sara Albrecht, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Powered by a processor borrowed from a previous-generation iPhone, it's meant for people who mostly get things done in their browser and with basic productivity apps, sort of like a Chromebook.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 5 Mar. 2026
  • There are elements borrowed from B-movie horror flicks, crime dramas, Broadway musicals and love stories, mashed together in bold and bizarre strokes.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The family soon moved to the Southern California city of El Monte, where Joe McDonald was raised.
    Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Gardner, who was born and raised in Detroit, totaled four points, five rebounds and two assists in 16 minutes against his hometown team.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • If the memorial is passed by the Idaho Senate, it will be adopted and sent to Congress.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
  • In the last two years, half a dozen states have adopted bills to switch to permanent standard time in one legislative chamber, including Virginia in February.
    ABC News, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Generative AI in medicine is neither universally embraced as perfect nor completely dismissed as useless.
    Robert Pearl, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Moss, 52, embraced the sheer trend in a striking Paris Fashion Week appearance that underscored her decades-long influence on the industry.
    Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • However, the dance has taken on a life of its own outside the game, and is frequently performed as a taunting gesture at competitions.
    Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2026
  • The guidance offers producers, heads of department, and those in leadership roles simple steps that can be taken on productions regardless of their size, genre, or budget, to address and prevent risks to worker wellbeing, the charity said.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Taken up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taken%20up. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.

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