TAKING UP Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words

taking up

verb

present participle of take up

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

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 taking up Indeed, so much so that there are suggestions that the people from better-off backgrounds are taking up many of the limited number of places. — Roger Trapp, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 Gen Z is taking up analog hobbies, ditching dating apps and spending real time at the mall again. — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026 The queen-sized bed remains grand without feeling imposing or taking up your entire bedroom, largely thanks to its lower headboard height and nearly invisible wooden legs. — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 16 July 2026 Much was spoken about the positions Ronaldo was taking up in their opening game, often keeping himself offside when DR Congo pushed up the pitch. — Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 July 2026 Rather than having cluttered and mismatched products taking up precious space, Hamid recommends unifying products. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 June 2026 Marco Colon, 14, is taking up boxing with Plaza now, as is Eugene Garcia, 18. — Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 24 June 2026 Since taking up farming in 2019, Clarkson has become an outspoken agriculture advocate who has railed against the government’s decision to introduce inheritance tax on farmland in November 2024. — ABC News, 17 June 2026 Some states are taking up the issue. — Gretchen Morgenson, NBC news, 10 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for taking up

Verb

Fresh from lifting the FIFA Club World Cup and buoyed by optimism around Enzo Maresca’s project, the Blues stumbled to a disappointing 10th-place Premier League finish.

— Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 31 July 2026
Rising domestic yields are unnerving investors, while currency weakness is lifting dollar‑denominated debt‑servicing costs in real time.

— William Pesek, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of lifting

Verb

For chemicals classified as possible human carcinogens, MCLGs are typically set at a level where drinking the water daily for 70 years would cause one additional cancer case per 1 million people above the background rate.

— Christine Kirchhoff, The Conversation, 30 July 2026
Traditionally, mate is passed around a group, with friends and family members often drinking from the same bombilla.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

Definition of drinking

Verb

But since the war in Iran began at the end of February, borrowing money has become more expensive, meaning fewer families can afford mortgages or auto loans.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
Still, if the bubble does pop, most of the damage will be localized to investors unless major institutions are borrowing money to try to capitalize on the boom.

— HubSpot, HubSpot, 31 July 2026

Definition of borrowing

Verb

His abrupt decision to abandon plans to sell a stake in FIFA’s commercial rights to private equity marks a rare and significant political defeat, exposing the limits of his authority and raising new questions about his future leadership.

— Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Factory managers were often on the defensive, since raising vision problems could sound like a critique of their management.

— Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 31 July 2026

Definition of raising

Verb

The Works is a lightweight, fast-absorbing moisturizer for your body in any stage, helping to hydrate and tone, boost elasticity, tighten crepiness, and replenish texture.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
On the road, the bZ’s suspension prioritizes ride comfort over corner-carving theatrics, absorbing rough pavement pretty well while maintaining enough body control to avoid feeling too floaty.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 July 2026

Definition of absorbing

Verb

After losing Noodle, Graziano spent some time fostering dogs before adopting his current pug, Milton.

— Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
That positioning did not always speak to women who wanted the health and functional benefits of resistance training without adopting an extreme fitness identity.

— Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of adopting

Verb

Pinnock, in particular, is at his best here, showcasing a diabolical cruelty and terrifying manipulation, elevating the story and the show to a different level.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 31 July 2026
As a longtime hub for free arts education and festivals, the campus redesign seeks to better serve Watts residents and visitors while elevating the towers as a defining symbol of Los Angeles.

— Jane Horowitz, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026