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
  • The year the ban lifted, Trier became the country’s national champion, specializing in rugged stunts using infrastructure like rails and stairs.
    Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Then finally, in 2023, the bans were lifted.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • On a recent day, a patron drank a Guinness at the bar amid walls are covered in funeral notices from people who had come for a drink after saying that final goodbye.
    Chris Kenning, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Three or four decades ago, the newspaperman was appealingly raffish—at once a bum who drank too much and a knight-errant who charged unafraid at social injustice, succored the weak, and crossed lances with the powerful and arrogant.
    David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The name, borrowed from the post-apocalyptic movie series, immediately drew attention for its bold tone.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Dressing accordingly for the theme, Harry borrowed his friend Tom Hardy’s Mad Max costume while Meghan sported a camo tank with torn black shorts and fishnet stockings.
    Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • During the president’s first term in office, his officials raised alarms about Beijing’s growing technological prowess, its military buildup, and its dominance over the critical minerals industry.
    Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
  • This week, faced with the prospect of losing SNAP assistance and the stress of the holidays around the corner, Gabrielle, a West Virginia resident, reluctantly raised her hand in a community Facebook group.
    Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Let stand, stirring occasionally, until stock is absorbed, about 5 minutes.
    Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2025
  • That changed around 2019, when Fonseca sat absorbed as Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer in a Wimbledon final lasting four hours and 57 minutes – the longest final in the tournament’s history.
    George Ramsay, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • He was later adopted and raised by his grandmother.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
  • The bounty hunter kills some random dudes who are dumb enough to cross him and steals a Falka doll from some little girls who have adopted the Rats as folk heroes.
    Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The values Homer elevated, especially those of male honor and female duplicity, established parameters for the war story (and not only the war story) for centuries to come.
    Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Wright was signed to the Commanders' practice squad and immediately elevated to the active roster alongside defensive tackle Sheldon Day.
    Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • When it was established in 1940, GSMNP swallowed up several communities, and the ruins of tiny timber towns can still be found.
    Graham Averill, Outside, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Consuelos, 54, plays billionaire Tripp Houser in the show, who was saved by Hen after he was swallowed by a whale, and in return, sent her and Athena into space.
    Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Took up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20up. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!