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

Batteries are a linchpin for unlocking solar and wind energy’s full potential by soaking up excess green energy and then discharging it when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining. —Mark Chediak, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026

Time spent poolside soaking up some vitamin D, is time well spent. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026

When a lot of rain falls very quickly, the ground can’t soak up the water—leading to floods. —Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026

Choose between coastal escapes like Florida's Key West or mountain retreats like Bryson City, North Carolina, to soak up scenic Southern landscapes. —Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2026

Rhymes for soak up

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