take up vs absorb

take up and absorb both are verbs.

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

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

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

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

Other hyponyms of take up include adsorb, chemisorb.

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