took up

Definition of took upnext
past tense of take up
1
2
as in drank
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

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 took up Additionally, the lawsuit claims oil companies began in the 1980s to halt their research on advanced battery chemistries and hybrid electric motors, withheld market-ready hybrid engine prototypes and took up patent litigation to stifle innovators. Jc Reindl, Freep.com, 23 Jan. 2026 The 49ers took up residence in Santa Clara in 1988 after moving from Redwood City, with Levi’s Stadium to follow on site in 2014. Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026 The band Buffalo Springfield took up residence in the 1960s, and Neil Young returned to the site in the 1970s with his band Crazy Horse, according to reporting from SF Gate. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026 Prevost took up his new role in Rome after Easter of that year. Paul Elie, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026 And Cook took up Hunt on the offer. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2025 The other laureates, French economist Philippe Aghion and Canadian-American Peter Howitt, also took up the earlier work of renowned Austrian-American economist Joseph Schumpeter, from the first half of the 20th century, 150 years after Smith. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025 Sybille Darricarrère Lunel, formerly of Dior and Galeries Lafayette, took up her role in July, succeeding acting CEO Ralph Toledano, who remains chairman of the company. Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025 The winger spent time with family and took up new sports in golf and padel during his downtime. Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took up
Verb
  • Hussain ran outside and lifted her himself.
    Trevor Sochocki, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
  • In March 2022, the band made headlines by performing a one-off show at Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium, becoming the first international act to play an Australian stadium after COVID-19 border restrictions were lifted.
    Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • For four hours, the group of artists laughed, drank and debated their position in the rapidly shifting cultural landscape.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 21 Jan. 2026
  • May Protect Brain Health Older adults who drank three cups of (regular) milk daily saw a boost in brain-health-protecting antioxidant levels.
    Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • While on the runway the dress was blue and black with a trompe-l’œil design, Robbie’s look leaned into more Victorian-era flourishes, with a laced strapless bodice and an onyx and scarlet red gradient petal skirt, striking colors which borrowed from other styles in the show.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026
  • In Naples, Lobotka became a regista, the Italian term for a ‘six’ borrowed from cinema.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Republicans, who hold a super-minority in the Legislature and have long raised concerns about taxes and regulations overburdening California businesses, will likely oppose any tax bills.
    Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Funds raised during the 2025 Grammy Awards telecast, MusiCares’ Persons of the Year event and additional fundraising efforts were used to help deal with housing instability, interrupted income, physical health complications and ongoing trauma.
    David Wilson, Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • As wonderfully portrayed by Buric, the Wonder Man reboot’s director is every European artiste absorbed into the American studio system cut with a dose of Werner Herzog’s gloom; his mansion could be a museum of Hollywood Regency decadence.
    Judy Berman, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Starship is capital-intensive and when packaged with an already cash-generating business like Starlink, the risk can be absorbed within a single public entity.
    Sasirekha Subramanian, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The company later adopted the name Blue Bell Creameries, inspired by the native Texas bluebell wildflower.
    Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Azad doesn’t know that she’s adopted, and Rojîn struggles with how to tell her.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Indian traders are bracing for a year of record government debt supply, which may keep borrowing costs elevated in the nation’s bond market.
    Subhadip Sircar, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
  • The former Kansas and Alabama wing has elevated his game since conference play began.
    Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The story follows a scuba diver in search of his deceased father’s remains who gets swallowed by an 80-foot, 60-ton sperm whale and has only one hour to escape before his oxygen runs out.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
  • With tech earnings season kicking into high gear next week, Wall Street will start to get a clearer picture of where particular companies stand in adopting AI or getting swallowed by it.
    Seema Mody, CNBC, 22 Jan. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Took up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20up. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

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