1
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of taking up
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
The space will occupy 20,879 square feet, taking up a large amount of existing vacant space in the center, according to the Sacramento Business Journal.
—
Emma Hall,
Sacbee.com,
13 May 2026
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
The space will occupy 20,879 square feet, taking up a large amount of existing vacant space in the center, according to the Sacramento Business Journal.
—
Emma Hall,
Sacbee.com,
13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taking up
Verb
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Proponents say the workout’s minimal movements, like short sets of squats and lifting light weights, leave them with soreness but also increase their muscle.
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This mission will attempt to place a batch of CubeSats into orbit after lifting off from Andøya Spaceport in Norway.
Verb
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Middleton also reportedly avoids drinking tap water when travelling overseas because of concerns over bacteria, contaminants or unfamiliar mineral content.
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Middle and upper-class people would have wanted special implements for drinking these beverages and a place to drink it.
Verb
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And mortgage rates won’t go down until government debts and deficits go down — since the housing market competes for borrowing with the federal government.
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Production runs from a Los Angeles home base plus two traveling studios that move to the best matches each day, borrowing the fanfest grammar of Big Noon Kickoff.
Verb
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But a fresh start comes with plenty of new challenges — from rival ranchers and relentless cattle work to the unexpected trials of raising their teenage son, Carter (Finn Little).
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SpaceX went public in June, raising roughly $75 billion in the largest IPO on record.
Verb
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For decades, oceans have acted as the planet’s main heat sink, absorbing 90% of the excess heat produced by humans burning fossil fuels.
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There was an instance of Pölzl using her body to shield young Adolf and absorbing her husband’s blows.
Verb
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Not Respecting Shrines and Temples Most Japanese people have a very loose relationship to religion compared to some Westerners, adopting practices from Buddhism, Shinto, and even Christianity.
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During the past decade, underwriters have pushed buzzy tech companies into adopting more staggered or shortened release dates for insiders to sell their shares, some even contingent on earnings or stock-price increases to dampen the flow.
Verb
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The squad has won four matches in a row, elevating it for the first time in four decades to the competition’s round of 16.
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Since the Wright Brothers first took flight in 1903, the aerospace industry in particular has played a key role in elevating travel, commerce and defense, while helping to forge a national identity.
Verb
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Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin's son is embracing his time in the spotlight.
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Increasingly, however, many are embracing a different definition—one that includes rest, healing, preventative care, joy, and self-investment.
Cite this Entry
“Taking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taking%20up. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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