sponge up vs take up

sponge up and take up both are verbs.

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

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

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

sponge up (verb)	take up (verb)
absorb as if with a sponge	pursue or resume
	return to a previous location or condition
	adopt
	take up as if with a sponge
	take out or up with or as if with a scoop
	accept
	take in, also metaphorically
	take up a liquid or a gas either by adsorption or by absorption
	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