took up

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 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 María Elvira Salazar, the Florida representative, recently took up the cause of a Cuban rapper named Eliéxer Márquez Duany. Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 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 None of them took up the offer from the production team. Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 8 Sep. 2025 Flaws in medical devices were not a new concept that the 2023 guidance took up. Christian Espinosa, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 The documents are dated July 17 and July 21, respectively — more than a week before the City Council took up the mayor’s request to declare the three parcels surplus property. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took up
Verb
  • However, the most stringent sanctions on Damascus remain and cannot be fully lifted without congressional approval.
    Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Trump lifted al-Sharaa's terrorist designation last week and has called for Congress to lift all sanctions on Syria, though some Republicans oppose a blanket repeal without safeguards.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The first urban inhabitants drank wine, a recent archaeological survey found, after discovering the rare wine press near Tel Megiddo in Israel’s north.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2025
  • The two had spent hours chatting as Shamblin drank hard ciders on a remote Texas roadside.
    Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Namely, going after the drug traffickers themselves by raiding Mexican cartel trap houses and robbing their mules, using equipment borrowed from their parents including night-vision goggles and beanbag shotguns.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025
  • The average new-car customer borrowed $42,647 in the third quarter, at an annual interest rate of 7%, for an average monthly payment of $754.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • While much emphasis has been placed on how important the trades are for the work force, adult education programs faced a federal funding freeze, albeit briefly, this summer that raised concerns about the future of vocational schools.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Citymeals on Wheels welcomes all to Power Lunch because every single dollar raised will provide meals and connections for our older neighbors.
    Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 11 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Like all of Jack Daniel’s whiskey, it was filtered through charcoal before barreling, part of the Lincoln County process, but only through three feet instead of the usual 10 feet according to Fletcher (there’s less corn in the mashbill, and therefore less oil to be absorbed).
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Holding inventory becomes more expensive as carrying costs rise, and those costs either need to be recouped when selling to retailers or absorbed.
    Amalia Roy, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Arlene adopted Aileen in 1991 Arlene and her husband, Robert, adopted Aileen in 1991, after she was arrested and incarcerated.
    Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
  • It was officially adopted with a two-thirds vote requirement in 1917.
    George Petras, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Why shouldn’t any ordinary, everyday object be elevated from functional to gallery-worthy?
    Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Refinery issues in the Great Lakes and West Coast have kept prices elevated, and gasoline inventory data from the government showed another large weekly drop in supplies, which has temporarily propped up prices.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Some disappeared from the city and were swallowed up in the Yeoman hinterland.
    George Packer, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
  • And businesses that have so far swallowed the tariffs without raising prices may not be able to for much longer.
    Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Took up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20up. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

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