TAKES UP Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words

takes up

verb

present tense third-person singular of take up

as in lifts

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

as in drinks

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

as in borrows

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

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 takes up Vedder was revising lyrics, and also trying to get the vocal takes up to his standards, which were already quite high. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026 As the oceans absorb much of this excess heat, warmer seawater expands and takes up more space, while melting glaciers and ice sheets add even more water. — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026 Repairs, replacement parts and the physical space each piece takes up all factor into the true cost of ownership. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026 Hospital care takes up the biggest share of healthcare expenditures. — Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 The only downside was its size and weight, as it was primarily designed for home use, but no one wants to travel with a gadget that takes up half a suitcase. — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 20 June 2026 Pratt also led the pack in the 5th District, which takes up much of the Westside and is represented by Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky. — Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026 Limit Your Denim Denim takes up a surprising amount of room. — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026 Dark wood furniture swallows light and takes up floor space in hallways. — Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 7 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for takes up

Verb

In one work, a trompe-l’oeil page corner lifts to reveal a world beyond.

— Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
SpaceX's Starship rocket lifts off from Starbase, Texas, as seen from South Padre Island on August 26, 2025, for its tenth test flight.

— Reuters, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of lifts

Verb

The aesthetic borrows from grunge and indie sleaze, blending undone eyeliner with pale, textured skin.

— Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
When the value of a property rises, Kiyosaki borrows more money against that equity, then treats that loan like tax-free income.

— Christopher Cox, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of borrows

Verb

And autonomy raises the cost of error, because outputs turn into actions.

— Emily Lewis-Pinnell, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
The Federal Open Market Committee typically raises rates to help tame inflation, which rose faster than paychecks over the year in July and has remained above the Fed’s 2% target for five years.

— Rachel Barber, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of raises

Verb

This outer layer absorbs physical stress directly, protecting the delicate internal materials from bending or cracking under load.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
As Altman absorbs the public’s fears and frustrations over AI, the company has recently sought to elevate Brockman’s profile as a counterweight.

— Alex Heath, Time, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of absorbs

Verb

Many states exempt data center servers and equipment from sales tax; whatever rule a state adopts must remain stable long enough for a project to be financed.

— Mark Drapeau, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
If your bank adopts it, the heavy lifting happens between the bank and the carrier network.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of adopts

Verb

In one, Gere embraces Alejandra as their son runs into the shot; another shows the three embracing in a group hug.

— Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Many tourists are drawn to the city because they're hooked on the lifestyle Sheridan embraces in his storytelling.

— Christine Lennon, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026