sponge up vs absorb

sponge up and absorb both are verbs.

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

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

Other hypernyms of sponge up include draw, imbibe, soak up, sop up, suck, suck up, take in, take up.

sponge up (verb)	absorb (verb)
absorb as if with a sponge	cause to become one with
	take up mentally
	consume all of one's attention or time
	devote (oneself) fully to
	take in, also metaphorically
	become imbued
	assimilate or take in
	take up, as of debts or payments
	suck or take up or in