1
as in lifting
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in drinking
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
as in borrowing
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 taking up
Rather than having cluttered and mismatched products taking up precious space, Hamid recommends unifying products.
—
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2026
Parking and taking up numerous spots is obviously an issue.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 25 Feb. 2026
Instead of taking up that bill, the House Budget Committee offers its own.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026
Recycle them and enjoy not having as much paper taking up space in your home!
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 22 Jan. 2026
With thoughtful compartments that keep everything organized without taking up much space, this travel accessory is one Shortsleeve never leaves behind.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2026
A week after a 550-pound bear was evicted from under an Altadena home, another Altadena resident about a mile away reported a bear taking up residency under that home’s floorboards.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Its foldable design with a snap closure keeps accessories organized, without taking up too much room in an everyday purse or carry-on bag.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Biesinger says working on his own projects, spending time with his family and taking up hobbies like metal detection offer ways to relieve stress and reconnect with his creativity.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2026
Parking and taking up numerous spots is obviously an issue.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 25 Feb. 2026
Instead of taking up that bill, the House Budget Committee offers its own.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026
Recycle them and enjoy not having as much paper taking up space in your home!
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 22 Jan. 2026
With thoughtful compartments that keep everything organized without taking up much space, this travel accessory is one Shortsleeve never leaves behind.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2026
A week after a 550-pound bear was evicted from under an Altadena home, another Altadena resident about a mile away reported a bear taking up residency under that home’s floorboards.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Its foldable design with a snap closure keeps accessories organized, without taking up too much room in an everyday purse or carry-on bag.
—Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Biesinger says working on his own projects, spending time with his family and taking up hobbies like metal detection offer ways to relieve stress and reconnect with his creativity.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taking up
Verb
-
Juraj Slafkovsky put Montreal in front less than five minutes before the second intermission, lifting a wrist shot over Kuemper’s glove from the slot.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
On Sunday afternoon, Nathan MacKinnon scored the decisive goal in a shootout, lifting the Avalanche to a 3-2 come-from-behind win over the Wild in their final meeting of the regular season.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Meteorologist Amber Lee recommends drinking plenty of water, taking breaks when needed and avoiding outdoor activities during peak hours.—
Chelsea Hylton,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The Aurora Police Department is also encouraging residents to designate a sober driver before heading out, never let a friend drive impaired, always wear a seat belt and use a ride-share service, taxi or public transportation if drinking.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And like its Big Tech rivals, Meta is borrowing tens of billions a year to finance these deals — another possible sign of overconfidence.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
-
So borrowing an amount such as $60,000 should be relatively easy to do now that median home equity levels are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Sinomine Resource Group are also constructing lithium sulfate plants tied to their Zimbabwean mines, raising questions about whether the country is building an independent refining sector or simply deepening its role inside China’s battery ecosystem.—
Ray Mwayera,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Unlike chatbots that simply respond to prompts, AI agents can take proactive actions, which often require broader access to data and systems, raising privacy and security concerns.—
Evelyn Cheng,Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The legislature hurriedly endorsed the sale during a special session in 2024, adopting — without a public hearing — the enabling legislation needed to allow an unregulated, nonprofit company to buy a regulated water utility.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Animal Services asked for help either fostering, adopting or rescuing the dogs to free up kennel space.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Hegseth apparently delighted in dispensing death and elevating and glorifying war.—
Casey Ryan Kelly,
The Conversation,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The investment is a surprising move for Lee, who focuses his content on mom-and-pop restaurants, usually with an aim of elevating them to his audience.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Then, floodplains will play a critical role in absorbing runoff and pollutants.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Mar. 2026
-
As absorbing as the debate has been, technology appears to be settling it without much regard to the feelings of the old guard.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That had several from the Heat embracing Howard after Thursday night’s close of the season series, including Spoelstra and Bam Adebayo.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Reviews have been mixed, with some critics embracing Gyllenhaal’s bold vision and others dismissing it as a whole lot of sound and fury, signifying zilch.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taking%20up. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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