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
After nine years playing in the majors, Hoffman took up coaching in the Dodgers’ minor league farm system, splitting time between managing and coordinating field instruction for player development.
—
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
Chekhov took up position beside a section of the wall still standing, keeping well within its shadow.
—
Vasily Grossman,
Harpers Magazine,
30 June 2026
In 1979, Jean-Louis Palladin arrived in Washington from Gascony, France, took up residence in the kitchen of the Watergate Hotel and proceeded to embarrass every serious cook in America.
—
Bart Hutchins,
Washington Post,
12 June 2026
On June 9, 1846, American immigrants near Sonoma took up arms and captured a number of members of the Mexican military and their horses.
—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
12 June 2026
Six took up redistricting voluntarily, one was required to by its state constitution and another did so under court order.
—
David A. Lieb,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
The board took up Chapman’s previous offer to reduce her hours and forgo her benefits next year.
—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2026
The Supreme Judicial Court took up the case, and is now weighing the lawsuit after hearing arguments from both sides last month.
—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
8 May 2026
Though the back-and-forth between council, city staff and developers took up much of the hearing, over a dozen citizens chimed in.
—
Matthew Geiger,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
Chekhov took up position beside a section of the wall still standing, keeping well within its shadow.
—
Vasily Grossman,
Harpers Magazine,
30 June 2026
In 1979, Jean-Louis Palladin arrived in Washington from Gascony, France, took up residence in the kitchen of the Watergate Hotel and proceeded to embarrass every serious cook in America.
—
Bart Hutchins,
Washington Post,
12 June 2026
On June 9, 1846, American immigrants near Sonoma took up arms and captured a number of members of the Mexican military and their horses.
—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
12 June 2026
Six took up redistricting voluntarily, one was required to by its state constitution and another did so under court order.
—
David A. Lieb,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
The board took up Chapman’s previous offer to reduce her hours and forgo her benefits next year.
—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2026
The Supreme Judicial Court took up the case, and is now weighing the lawsuit after hearing arguments from both sides last month.
—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
8 May 2026
Though the back-and-forth between council, city staff and developers took up much of the hearing, over a dozen citizens chimed in.
—
Matthew Geiger,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took up
Verb
-
He was replaced by Victor Robles, who got hit by a pitch on the right wrist in the bottom of the third and was lifted in favor of Weston Wilson in the fifth.
-
This bikini’s feminine sweetheart neckline offers a classic, lifted silhouette made for beach days or backyard pool parties.
Verb
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The regulars were middle-aged men who routinely drank five or six cocktails after work and were only rarely sloppy.
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Researchers found the strongest association among people who drank about two to three cups of caffeinated coffee or one to two cups of tea each day.
Verb
-
The sleek outfit borrowed many of the elements that Shields has relied on for years.
-
Sleek Separates Kendall Jenner borrowed from the classic summer playbook, wearing an all-white ensemble for an event in Soho.
Verb
-
The bike lane is raised a little from the street, and then the sidewalk is raised a little from the bike lane.
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But last year, Australia’s National Rodeo Association raised the age limit to 18, boosting Bella’s ambition to one day ride in adult comps.
Verb
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Inhalers are often used for asthma, a condition in which the lungs struggle to get enough air absorbed and sent to the body.
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The soap can be absorbed by the berries, potentially introducing contaminants.
Verb
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It was later adopted as the nation’s first official flag after the Continental Congress passed a resolution on June 14, 1777.
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Some of the other Angels have adopted Pikachu as an unofficial team mascot and last week during the Angels’ series against the Mariners in Seattle, the team visited Pokémon’s North American headquarters.
Verb
-
The space is a balance between tropical escape and late-night lounge, with moody lighting, sexy design elements and music that keeps the energy elevated throughout the evening.
-
The president has elevated MAGA-friendly election deniers into the federal government, sicced the Justice Department on his political enemies, and drafted multiple agencies into his relentless hunt to substantiate his broad claims of voter fraud.
Verb
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Each player swallowed a biometric tablet, about the size of a large vitamin, so that scientists could see how well his body cooled itself.
-
Today, the border's meanderings to its current location is the story of the birth of a nation that swallowed Native American tribes, Spanish descendants and Mexican citizens.
Cite this Entry
“Took up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20up. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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