TAKING UP Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words

taking up

verb

Definition of taking up next

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 Other examples can be seen in the deliberate way Flick sprung to Raphinha’s defence back in December, taking up the topic of the Brazilian’s lack of individual recognition despite not having been asked about it. —

Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026 If trends persist, a third and fourth quarterback will be added to the room for training camp, and then only two will be on the active 53-man roster, with another taking up a practice squad roster spot. —

Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 7 Apr. 2026 There are 21 beds total, so the twins have been taking up nearly half the beds. —

Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026 Because of inflation and changing consumer habits, many big name retailers have been forced to reduce their store footprints, with e-commerce taking up a higher bulk of sales. —

Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026 Trading pencil skirts for scrubs and pilot uniforms, many women are making waves by taking up space in high-paying industries. —

Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026 There are no indications that Congress is taking up the legislation. —

Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for taking up

Verb

The city chose a more muscular solution, raising the park and lifting the river’s edge to form a wall intended to hold back sixteen feet of surge.

— Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
If Orbán is reelected, the EU could use that funding as a bargaining chip to extract concessions such as lifting his veto of the 90 billion euros to Ukraine, Hegedűs said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026