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

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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

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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 Feel free to skip the pep talk and ask what's been taking up their energy lately. — Vanessa Van Edwards, Contributor, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026 Brittin warned upon taking up the top job in May that the organization would need to take drastic measures if his company is to come out the other side of this evolve-or-die period for traditional broadcasters. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026 Justin Barocas, a founder of the Anomaly agency, is taking up the reins as CEO, while Kamen will move to an executive-chairman role and Scherma will maintain his position as president. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 That’s why the Jmdhkk Hidden Camera Detector may be a good investment to provide a level of safety to your stay without taking up excess space in your suitcase or being difficult to use. — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2026 Some are banning their kids from taking up football; others defend it for building bonds and teaching life skills. — Alexandra Pattillo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2026 This September, the facility welcomed 34 kits from seven litters, marking the most productive season in its 25-year history of taking up the project. — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2026 While most voters tell us their biggest concern is affordability, a new issue has entered the chat, taking up an outsized amount of space on the campaign trail, on the airwaves, and in party war rooms. — S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026 Yet Texhibition Istanbul itself has been holding steady, taking up five halls while other exhibitions around the world were shrinking. — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for taking up

Verb

The reduction in missions lifting off from Florida has slowed Falcon 9's Starlink launch cadence considerably.

— Josh Dinner, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Record-high diesel prices pushed freight off the highway and onto the railroads in the third quarter, lifting CSX, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern to record revenue.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of lifting

Verb

But there’s a difference between drinking before entering the ring once and corrupting bullfighting for years.

— Stephen Bates, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
Pearce has stopped drinking alcohol and has turned her experience into an effort to support other breast cancer survivors.

— Melissa May, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of drinking

Verb

In 2024, the CFPB proposed a rule that would require the disclosure of tips and fees as finance charges as an APR, or the total yearly cost of borrowing money.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Concerns that tech companies are borrowing too much for the AI buildout sent neoclouds like CoreWeave , which has seen its total debt rise to more than $51 billion , plunging 25% last week.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of borrowing

Verb

And already this week, at least one county official is raising questions about why his locality is on the DOJ's list.

— Miles Parks, NPR, 22 Oct. 2026
Privacy concerns The very same design elements that make Muse so appealing to AI newcomers are also raising privacy concerns.

— Andrew R. Chow, Time, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of raising

Verb

Energy-absorbing seats are designed to manage forces transmitted to occupants during an impact, potentially reducing injury risks.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Children choose their own data, probing the world with little experiments rather than passively absorbing it and learn continuously.

— Charles Yeomans, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of absorbing

Verb

Readers with persistent scalp issues should still consult a dermatologist before adopting any new routine.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
The transition to non-fossil energy has its own inflationary impacts, from the costs to heavy industry of adopting new technologies to the production costs of critical minerals.

— Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of adopting

Verb

Second, the massive capital requirements associated with artificial intelligence infrastructure buildouts have intensified competition for market liquidity, leading investors to demand higher yields and further elevating corporate financing costs.

— , CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
The Timberland Field Boot in Brown Full-grain/Camo features a Gore-Tex membrane, elevating the typical waterproof construction of the Field Boot with an even more protective liner that’s also breathable.

— Riley Jones, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of elevating

Verb

Yet, Wealth Briefing Asia notes that regulatory and reporting challenges often stop family offices from fully embracing crypto assets.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
And fanfic adaptations aren’t just capturing attention in the film industry; fanfic is also a promotional tool, with films that have nothing to do with fanfic embracing it.

— Emily Maskell, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2026