soak up

verb

soaked up; soaking up; soaks up

1

: to take in (liquid) : absorb

The rag soaked up most of the water.

2

: to enjoy feeling or experiencing (something pleasant) in usually a slow or relaxed way

We went to the beach and soaked up the sun/sunshine all afternoon.

I sat at my table for an hour soaking up the atmosphere of the café.

The performers stood on the stage, soaking up the applause.

3

: to learn and remember (something) quickly

He eagerly soaked up every word she said.

She has an ability to soak up new information very quickly.

4

: to use a large amount of (money, supplies, etc.)

This project is soaking up resources that could be used elsewhere.

Examples of soak up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The mirror plate soaks up some of the light, which means a very bright display, and its size largely limits how wide the view can be. — New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026

The limits of burying the bad news Each of these interventions, whether reckless, self-destructive trade barriers, massive military invasions, or offensive divisive speeches, soaks up attention. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 7 Oct. 2026

Nova Scotia, Canada Foliage tourists in Nova Scotia can soak up autumn’s glory across the Canadian province. — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026

Arrange the buns, cut sides down, on the hot surface of the skillet or griddle to toast and soak up those good juices, about 2 minutes. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

Rhymes for soak up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup