taken up

Definition of taken upnext
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 former prince spirited off from the Royal Lodge in the middle of the night and has reportedly taken up residence in a cottage in Sandringham. Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 7 Feb. 2026 So my attention was taken up with wiping off the counter and the tiles, and remaking the coffee. Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025 His wife, Erika Kirk, has since taken up the mantel of spearheading his organization, Turning Point USA, and has committed to keeping his legacy alive. Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025 This simple idea, of searching for an answer, can be taken up a level — to much, much bigger maps, and to much harder problems than navigation, such as solving a complex puzzle or proving difficult mathematical theorems. Big Think, 4 Nov. 2025 However, this time it is taken up a notch by adding egg noodles, making for a tasty and complete meal with little hands-on time. Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 4 Nov. 2025 The legislation already passed the Senate in April with a 51-48 vote, but was not taken up by the House. Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 29 Oct. 2025 However, those efforts petered out in 2023 and haven’t been taken up since. Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025 News round-up Frenkie de Jong has taken up a new contract at Barca, running to 2029. Phil Hay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taken up
Verb
  • An eight-hour lockdown on campus was lifted Friday.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
  • SpaceX launches Crew-12 astronauts With a blinding light, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifted off on time from Space Launch Complex 40 to carry the four Crew-12 astronauts toward the International Space Station.
    Josh Dinner, Space.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Instead, the sun's heat is absorbed, helping to make the Arctic the fastest warming place on Earth.
    CBS News, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
  • This means that in practice, families often absorbed costs, doctors improvised, and communities carried the burden.
    Abrar Mir, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Appearing at the Marc Jacobs 2026 Runway Show at Park Avenue Armory in New York City on February 9, Fox donned a slinky look that borrowed from the silhouettes and color blocking of '80s fitness fashion while adding a distinctively modern spin.
    Meg Walters, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
  • If her name sounds familiar to Landman fans, that’s because Sheridan, a friend of the Goffs, apparently borrowed it for the steel magnolia of an oil wife, played by Demi Moore.
    Sarah Hepola, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • With greater tempo and intensity from Liverpool after the interval, the decibel levels were raised inside Anfield and the players fed off that energy, knocking City off their stride.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Last time was Super Bowl LVI following the 2021 season, when the Rams raised the Lombardi Trophy in their home stadium after a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Gripped by a worsening economic crisis, Cuba’s government recently adopted rationing measures to protect essential services and ration fuel supplies for key sectors.
    Sam Meredith, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Some guests got very into it—one adopted a fake British accent for the duration.
    Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Rodríguez herself hasn't embraced meaningful public debate of the nation's problems other than announcing the creation of an advisory commission on political co-existence to be headed by Villegas' brother, Culture Minister Ernesto Villegas.
    EGINA GARCIA CANO, Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
  • In the days after the Bondi Beach massacre – allegedly committed by a father and son who had embraced Islamic State ideology – the government announced sweeping new gun laws, tougher rules on hate speech, and stronger powers for the home affairs minister to cancel visas on character grounds.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The American was greeted by loud cheers from the traveling US fans when her name was announced as a starter, but the occasion didn’t seem to faze the young athlete, who has taken on so much responsibility of late.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
  • But this one, just yards from where the Super Bowl will kick off Sunday, has taken on a particular level of infamy.
    Aria Bendix, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Taken up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taken%20up. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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