take in vs sponge up

take in and sponge up both are verbs.

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

As verbs, sponge up is a hyponym of take in; that is, sponge up is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than take in:

Other hyponyms of take in include mop, mop up, wipe up, blot.

take in (verb)	sponge up (verb)
make (clothes) smaller	absorb as if with a sponge
take into one's family
take up mentally
fool or hoax
serve oneself to, or consume regularly
take up as if with a sponge
fold up
express willingness to have in one's home or environs
accept
take in, also metaphorically
hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers
see or watch
earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
call for and obtain payment of
visit for entertainment
provide with shelter
suck or take up or in