soak up

1. Drink to excess, as in She can really soak up her beer .

2. Absorb, take in, as in I lay there, soaking up the sun , or She often went to hear poets read their work, soaking up every word . This usage, alluding to absorbing a liquid, dates from the mid-1500s.

Example Sentences

The rods would soak up most of the electric field there while allowing it to oscillate at full strength beyond the rods, restoring the conversion rate.

From Science Magazine

Taylor, in black with gold trim, was more understated in her ring walk but still soaking up the atmosphere as she sauntered down the runway without any real urgency.

From BBC

When the rain starts to fall, it comes down with increased intensity on soils that are not best able to soak up high levels of water.

From BBC

Trees are vital for life, helping to clean the air and soak up carbon emissions, as well as providing homes for thousands of birds, insects and mammals.

From BBC

But the WMO's scientists also says they have seen some evidence that as the world gets warmer, trees are not able to soak up the same level of CO2 as they once were.

From BBC

Related Words

• bake
• blot
• deplete
• drain
• empty
• evaporate
• exhaust
• sear
• shrivel
• wilt
• wipe
• wither