1
as in lifted
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in borrowed
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 took up
Martinez’s attorneys took up the battle to get evidence released in early January following the killing of Renee Good by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis under circumstances eerily similar to Martinez’s shooting.
—
Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
But FOToS took up the most oxygen last year; its author, a two-time winner here, certainly will earn his third.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Additionally, the lawsuit claims oil companies began in the 1980s to halt their research on advanced battery chemistries and hybrid electric motors, withheld market-ready hybrid engine prototypes and took up patent litigation to stifle innovators.
—Jc Reindl, Freep.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The 49ers took up residence in Santa Clara in 1988 after moving from Redwood City, with Levi’s Stadium to follow on site in 2014.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
The band Buffalo Springfield took up residence in the 1960s, and Neil Young returned to the site in the 1970s with his band Crazy Horse, according to reporting from SF Gate.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Prevost took up his new role in Rome after Easter of that year.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
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
Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
But FOToS took up the most oxygen last year; its author, a two-time winner here, certainly will earn his third.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Additionally, the lawsuit claims oil companies began in the 1980s to halt their research on advanced battery chemistries and hybrid electric motors, withheld market-ready hybrid engine prototypes and took up patent litigation to stifle innovators.
—Jc Reindl, Freep.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The 49ers took up residence in Santa Clara in 1988 after moving from Redwood City, with Levi’s Stadium to follow on site in 2014.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
The band Buffalo Springfield took up residence in the 1960s, and Neil Young returned to the site in the 1970s with his band Crazy Horse, according to reporting from SF Gate.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Prevost took up his new role in Rome after Easter of that year.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took 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
-
Earlier this month, a newborn baby died from a listeria infection in New Mexico after the infant’s mother drank raw milk, and officials there are warning people off those products while the death is being investigated.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
In the early 2000s, there was a viral gossip report that Thornton and the Tomb Raider star drank each other’s blood.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
11 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
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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
-
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
-
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
-
More melodic variation might have elevated these more reserved passages; Sutkowski’s pull-no-punches songwriting usually isn’t enough to shoulder the weight on its own.—
Billie Bugara,
Pitchfork,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The general atmosphere is elevated, perfect for Valentine’s Day.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Everywhere the Patriots went, the Seahawks swallowed them.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
With the longer-term future of HBO Max somewhat uncertain given what could happen if it gets swallowed up by one of the world’s biggest streamers, Perrette pushed back on the idea that Netflix top brass would be unhappy with HBO Max rolling out across the world.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Took up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20up. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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