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 The queen-sized bed remains grand without feeling imposing or taking up your entire bedroom, largely thanks to its lower headboard height and nearly invisible wooden legs. — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 16 July 2026 Much was spoken about the positions Ronaldo was taking up in their opening game, often keeping himself offside when DR Congo pushed up the pitch. — Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 July 2026 Rather than having cluttered and mismatched products taking up precious space, Hamid recommends unifying products. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 June 2026 Marco Colon, 14, is taking up boxing with Plaza now, as is Eugene Garcia, 18. — Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 24 June 2026 Since taking up farming in 2019, Clarkson has become an outspoken agriculture advocate who has railed against the government’s decision to introduce inheritance tax on farmland in November 2024. — ABC News, 17 June 2026 Some states are taking up the issue. — Gretchen Morgenson, NBC news, 10 June 2026 While Elliott became the cast’s newest addition, Demi Moore was foregrounded as a major player, with her character Cami Miller taking up the mantle of MTEX CEO following her husband’s sudden death in Season 1. — Kai Naima Williams, Variety, 27 May 2026 Its minimalist silhouette and hip-length hem pair effortlessly with shorts, skirts, or linen trousers, helping to stretch your travel wardrobe without taking up much suitcase space. — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 20 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for taking up

Verb

Saudi Arabia briefly issued warnings in two locations before lifting them several minutes later, saying the danger had passed.

— Monica Haider, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
Max Muncy hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning on Gerrit Cole's 103rd and final pitch, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers over the New York Yankees 2-1 on Friday night in their first game in the Bronx since winning the 2024 World Series.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026

Definition of lifting

Verb

People can get the stomach bug by eating and drinking food and water contaminated with poop.

— Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
Alcohol disrupts sleep, but drinking earlier may give your body more time to process it before bedtime, reducing its impact on sleep quality.

— Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 17 July 2026

Definition of drinking

Verb

Instead of raising expensive new money from outside investors, parent companies extracted equity from their nonbank subsidiaries and funneled it into their commercial bank arms.

— Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Later, the Moon squares combative Mars, raising the odds of sharp words and impatient reactions.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026

Definition of raising

Verb

The Works is a lightweight, fast-absorbing moisturizer for your body in any stage, helping to hydrate and tone, boost elasticity, tighten crepiness, and replenish texture.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
On the road, the bZ’s suspension prioritizes ride comfort over corner-carving theatrics, absorbing rough pavement pretty well while maintaining enough body control to avoid feeling too floaty.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 July 2026

Definition of absorbing

Verb

Board minutes show members voted in April to delay adopting an early voting plan for 30 days to allow additional time to look for a possible voting site in Midland.

— Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
Rubio said that smaller Chinese brands he’s talked with haven’t been open to adopting similar return policies.

— Scott Douglas, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

Definition of adopting

Verb

Several are publicly out in an industry that has historically lent little opportunity or security to anyone openly embracing their identity on and offscreen.

— Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026
Jennifer Lawrence, Zoë Kravitz, and Kendall Jenner, to name a few celebs, have been embracing the shoe’s simplicity.

— India Roby, Glamour, 16 July 2026