taken up

past participle of take up
1
2
as in absorbed
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 taken up The group is slated to perform in the evening, with the day-time programming taken up by ATEEZ DJ sets, dance workshops for their music, trivia and smaller breakout programming with members of the group. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026 This is currently skewed in many places, and not only in those states which have taken up arms in the recent redistricting wars. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026 The center of the Nordic Nook is taken up by the living room. — New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2026 Open System Settings > General > Storage to see how much space is taken up by Applications, Documents, and Photos. — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 1 Oct. 2026 Returning to Quadlin and Rudel, for example, later researchers have taken up the relationship between educational debt, time use, and students’ broader college experience. — Saurabh Anand, JSTOR Daily, 24 Sep. 2026 Selzer’s case was taken up by the free speech advocacy group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. — Hannah Fingerhut, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026 Opening on August 24 for visits by appointment only, the Wolf Kahn Foundation and Archives has taken up residence at 134 West 26th Street. — News Desk, Artforum, 24 Aug. 2026 Judging from this album, a lot of grim topics have taken up residence there. — Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 3 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taken up
Verb
  • All protective actions were lifted, and site barricades have reopened, officials said.
    — Bonny Chu , Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Consumer spending has remained resilient and a surge in investment in artificial intelligence has lifted economic growth.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nicotine pouches contain nicotine, flavorings and other ingredients, with nicotine absorbed through the gums and lining of the mouth.
    — Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The fields and forests are green because green is the slice of visible light not absorbed for photosynthesis.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Torani had borrowed a lot of money to build the new factory, and the pandemic brought new financial uncertainty.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • That year, Love borrowed nearly $150,000 from Foster Friends with zero interest, the tax filing and Love’s state economic disclosure forms show.
    — Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The judge also raised concerns the effort would disenfranchise eligible voters and create election chaos.
    — Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Koizumi raised concern Thursday about China's increasing naval activity in southwestern Japan.
    — JIM GOMEZ, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The MacBook screens have always been top-notch, meeting P3 color-gamut standards despite being IPS panels, and some have adopted additional features like True Tone ambient color adjustment.
    — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
  • How fast the benefits of a truly life-changing technology flow through the economy is the actual measure of how fast it is being adopted.
    — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Rogers, the Republican Senate candidate, has embraced the strategy, claiming, without offering any evidence, that El-Sayed has accepted campaign contributions from supporters of Hezbollah and Hamas.
    — Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2026
  • But our current vice president, JD Vance, someone who will likely run for president in 2028, has publicly embraced Richard Nixon’s legacy.
    — Dustin DeSoto, Vox, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The ad is characteristic of the increasingly dark tone Hilton’s campaign has taken on in the home stretch.
    — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Applegate also opened up about the toll her chronic pain and mobility issues have taken on her mental health and career.
    — Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Taken up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taken%20up. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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