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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of taking up
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
Though once invited to appear in a film by Michelangelo Antonioni, travel restrictions of the era kept him from taking up the role.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 7 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
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
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
Though once invited to appear in a film by Michelangelo Antonioni, travel restrictions of the era kept him from taking up the role.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 7 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taking up
Verb
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In exchange for lifting restrictions, China has agreed to reduce tariffs on Canadian canola oil, one of Canada’s top agricultural exports.—
Robert Ferris,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Prolonged moisture exposure can weaken the adhesive, leading to edges curling and tiles shifting or lifting entirely.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Who wants to close out the week in Guadalajara drinking the finest tequila on earth, or eating through the buzzing dining scene of Chicago?—
Matt Ortile,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Feb. 2026
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There is also some evidence that drinking lemon water could regulate blood sugar.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Often, parents risk jeopardizing their own financial futures by borrowing for their children’s education, Boyd said.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
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In addition to emptying a reserves fund and borrowing from a retiree health fund, district electeds agreed to reduce staffing, merge two middle schools, and end the kindergarten through eighth grade model, according to a Fiscal Solvency Plan trustees adopted Wednesday.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But what was really baffling was Cronin’s claim that the questioner was raising his voice.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
That reality means balancing work, wellness and raising her young son, which has become the foundation for her latest collaboration with Fabletics.—
Casey DelBasso,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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He’s gone viral for opposing Republican state lawmakers moving to add the Ten Commandments to public classrooms, and at another point for criticizing those lawmakers for not adopting stricter gun laws in the face of mass shootings.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
21 Feb. 2026
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One of our recent studies found that the majority of EMS employers are open to adopting napping policies.—
P. Daniel Patterson,
The Conversation,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Other staff at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission proposed elevating the Boarmans’ case to the agency’s administrative law court to further evaluate the cause of the pollution and pursue potential enforcement.—
Nick Bowlin,
The Frontier,
16 Feb. 2026
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The Chens aren’t the only ones elevating Chinese cuisine.—
Terry Tang,
Fortune,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Legacy software companies, not workers, are absorbing the real shock.—
David Stout,
Fortune,
19 Feb. 2026
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For a man who spent years absorbing hits from some of the biggest, fastest athletes on the planet in the NFL, comparing bobsledding to being back on the football field speaks volumes about the forces involved in the sport.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The analog trend is a different way to kick the digital habit because by embracing old technology and spending time on crafting projects experts say people are trying to be entertained or relax in ways that don’t involve being online.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2026
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As Carole King, Sabel is a revelation, embracing the role of the singer-songwriter with heart and verve.—
Oline Cogdill,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taking%20up. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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