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
Pair it with jeans, dress, midi skirts—pretty much anything, really—for an instantly polished look that adds an extra layer of warmth without taking up precious space in your luggage.
—
Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
The teacher opted to try taking up the carpet herself on the last day of school, but later submitted a work order after the job turned out to be too difficult to complete herself, the letter reads.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2025
The Supreme Court is taking up another gun rights dispute in a case that could lead to more handguns in public places.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
With King Charles’ health deteriorating, the Prince and Princess of Wales are taking up more royal duties, and their efforts aren’t going unnoticed.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 27 Sep. 2025
After taking up eight of the July 2025 tally’s 10 positions, music from KPop Demon Hunters keeps those same eight songs on the August survey, while the other two songs from last month — both from Superman — also stay on the list.
—Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 26 Sep. 2025
However, the mother of four — who shares daughters Luna and Esti and sons Miles and Wren with Legend — also told PEOPLE last year that her husband had been taking up more of the cooking load in their house.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
His release said the state House is taking up a bill that would impose tougher penalties on those who refuse to stop for police.
—Christina Hall, Freep.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Councilor Michael-Paul Hart, a Republican who represents the far southeast corner of the county, has opposed the project, arguing Google will create too few jobs and pay too little in taxes to justify taking up nearly 470 acres of land.
—Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 30 Aug. 2025
Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
The teacher opted to try taking up the carpet herself on the last day of school, but later submitted a work order after the job turned out to be too difficult to complete herself, the letter reads.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2025
The Supreme Court is taking up another gun rights dispute in a case that could lead to more handguns in public places.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
With King Charles’ health deteriorating, the Prince and Princess of Wales are taking up more royal duties, and their efforts aren’t going unnoticed.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 27 Sep. 2025
After taking up eight of the July 2025 tally’s 10 positions, music from KPop Demon Hunters keeps those same eight songs on the August survey, while the other two songs from last month — both from Superman — also stay on the list.
—Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 26 Sep. 2025
However, the mother of four — who shares daughters Luna and Esti and sons Miles and Wren with Legend — also told PEOPLE last year that her husband had been taking up more of the cooking load in their house.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
His release said the state House is taking up a bill that would impose tougher penalties on those who refuse to stop for police.
—Christina Hall, Freep.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Councilor Michael-Paul Hart, a Republican who represents the far southeast corner of the county, has opposed the project, arguing Google will create too few jobs and pay too little in taxes to justify taking up nearly 470 acres of land.
—Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 30 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taking up
Verb
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Washington — The Federal Reserve is doing a difficult balancing act, trying to tamp down inflation while lifting up the job market, Chair Jerome Powell said Tuesday.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
-
We are truly blessed to be surrounded by such a beautiful community lifting us in love and commitment.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For Slingerland, drinking alcohol and getting drunk are important to human well-being and complex societies.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
15 Oct. 2025
-
One of the passengers had shown Matney a cell phone video in which everyone on the boat was drinking and Paul was steering the boat.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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All smoke and sweat, full of gospel phrasing and hip-hop undertones, Brown Sugar introduced D’Angelo as an emotive, smooth-talking vocalist, a thinking, feeling performer in the likeness of Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, and Curtis Mayfield without borrowing too heavily from any of them.—
Marcus J. Moore,
Pitchfork,
15 Oct. 2025
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The only silver lining in recent economic news is that the Fed has finally started a rate-cutting cycle in an attempt to shoreup a softening job market, which could benefit consumers interested in borrowing for mortgages, cars and other purchases.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Arctic seals rely on sea ice for breeding and raising their pups, as well as for moulting, resting and accessing foraging areas.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
-
So far Pakistan’s diplomatic game is raising cheers back home.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Instagram is now adopting the same label for a teen-safety feature, but the possible outcomes are less discrete and obvious.—
Kaitlyn Tiffany,
The Atlantic,
17 Oct. 2025
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In the end, Krantz added, adopting a more strategic approach ultimately benefits customers, allowing companies to use their time and money more effectively by learning from the successes of others.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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He has also been tasked with elevating a passing game that has frequently been without its top two receivers, Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy.—
Jacob Camenker,
USA Today,
12 Oct. 2025
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As Loewe nose Nuria Cruelles tells it, this collection is about putting a modern, contemporary spin on classic ingredients—iris, vanilla, and oud—by elevating them in unique, unexpected way.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The eight books below are all absorbing enough to draw in longtime romance fans and newbies alike.—
Karen Ostergren,
The Atlantic,
13 Oct. 2025
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The more than one hundred-year-old company knows a thing or two about butter, and gave us pointers for how to keep butter fresh, safe to eat, and not absorbing odors.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Far from abdicating responsibility, these young adults were embracing it and moving, however slowly, into their future roles of caring for us.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
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Lowe's is also embracing the oversized trend.—
Ramon Padilla,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Taking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taking%20up. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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