TAKES UP Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words

takes up

verb

present tense third-person singular of take up

as in lifts

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

as in drinks

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

as in borrows

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

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 takes up As the oceans absorb much of this excess heat, warmer seawater expands and takes up more space, while melting glaciers and ice sheets add even more water. — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026 Repairs, replacement parts and the physical space each piece takes up all factor into the true cost of ownership. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026 Hospital care takes up the biggest share of healthcare expenditures. — Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 The only downside was its size and weight, as it was primarily designed for home use, but no one wants to travel with a gadget that takes up half a suitcase. — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 20 June 2026 Pratt also led the pack in the 5th District, which takes up much of the Westside and is represented by Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky. — Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026 Limit Your Denim Denim takes up a surprising amount of room. — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026 Dark wood furniture swallows light and takes up floor space in hallways. — Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 7 June 2026 Because uranium hydride takes up more volume than the original uranium metal, internal pressure increases. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 31 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for takes up

Verb

In Bunk 5, Billy lifts her head, exhales, and looks down at the woman underneath her.

— JP Mangalindan, Time, 10 Aug. 2026
Fresh lemon juice cuts through the sweetness, while a crown of sparkling wine lifts the pour into a crisp, bubbly finish.

— Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of lifts

Verb

The instrumentation adopts the Tambour’s graphic language, using cobalt blue dials and orange markings.

— Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
The artist adopts a schizoid persona, with multiple voices flowing out of him, and swerves between lucid social criticism—about the history of slavery or of higher education—and total gibberish.

— Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of adopts

Verb

If no candidate secures a majority of the vote in Tuesday's primary, the contest could head to a runoff later this month to determine who takes on Democrat Annie Andrews in November.

— Caroline Linton, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Shadowbox takes on management of Kaufman Astoria after a tumultuous period at the studios.

— Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026