absorb vs take up

absorb and take up both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
absorb	No	No	Yes	No
take up	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, absorb and take up are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of absorb include draw, imbibe, soak up, sop up, suck, suck up, take in.

As verbs, take up is a hypernym of absorb; that is, take up is a word with a broader meaning than absorb:

Other hypernyms of absorb include sorb.

absorb (verb)	take up (verb)
cause to become one with	pursue or resume
take up mentally	return to a previous location or condition
consume all of one's attention or time	adopt
devote (oneself) fully to	take up as if with a sponge
take in, also metaphorically	take out or up with or as if with a scoop
become imbued	accept
assimilate or take in	take in, also metaphorically
take up, as of debts or payments	take up a liquid or a gas either by adsorption or by absorption
suck or take up or in	occupy or take on
	take up and practice as one's own
	begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job
	turn one's interest to
	take up time or space