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

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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 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 The synthetic shapeshifter, wanted for intergalactic war crimes, has rewarded the townspeople with good health and prosperity in exchange for protecting her identity and taking up arms should trouble ever come to Rushville. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 15 Sep. 2026 Penthouse 5501 spans roughly 9,200 square feet, taking up an entire floor of the 62-story building, with 360-degree views of Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 14 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for taking up

Verb

Wealthier boomers aged into the 75-and-older bracket between surveys, lifting its median.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
China has opened much of its financial sector to foreign firms since 2018, gradually lifting foreign ownership caps on services such as securities, futures and fund management.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of lifting

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

Those officers were not wearing body cameras, raising questions about why the agency still hadn't gotten the cameras out to officers in the field.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Similar federal lists in other states have proved highly inaccurate, raising concerns that eligible voters could be disenfranchised.

— Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of raising

Verb

Otherwise, a project can appear affordable because employees are silently absorbing part of its cost.

— Hani Assi, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
For example, heavy elements are better at absorbing heat from the core, which affects the size of a star’s convective layer.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 9 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

From elevating beds to expanding sections to sliding walls and even entire roofs, these 10 homes transform to get maximum use out of a compact space.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
Holland was ousted in 2020, when Sarandos combined English-language and international content under Bajaria (elevating the latter to the largest autonomous content job in the streamer’s history).

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026