Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

take up with

VERB
associate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accompany join mix
STRONG
amalgamate confederate consort fraternize hobnob mingle pool
WEAK
be friends be in cahoots buddy up bunch up come together gang up get in on get in with get into get together go along with go partners hang around hang out hang out with join up with line up with pal up play footsie with run around with run with string along with swing with team up throw in together tie in tie up truck with work with
Antonyms
STRONGEST
divide leave separate withdraw
STRONG
disagree
WEAK
avoid disassociate disconnect disjoin dissociate disunite divorce part sever
VERB
befriend
Synonyms
STRONG
encourage friend welcome
WEAK
buddy up get chummy with get in with hit it off side with stand by take under one's wing
Antonyms
STRONG
block discourage dissuade harm hinder hurt injure obstruct stop thwart unfriend
WEAK
ignore neglect
VERB
consort
Synonyms
STRONG
accompany associate attend bear befriend bring carry chaperon company conduct convoy join mingle mix pal
WEAK
chum together chum with clique with gang up with go around with hang around with hang out with hang with keep company pal around with pal with run around with run with tie up with
Antonyms
STRONG
avoid disconnect disjoin dissociate divide ignore leave neglect refuse separate sever shun take withdraw
WEAK
disagree
VERB
join
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cooperate enlist enter follow side with
STRONG
align consort enroll
WEAK
associate with be in come aboard fall in with go to mingle with pair with plug into sign on sign up take part in team up with throw in with tie up with
Antonyms
STRONGEST
avoid shun stop
WEAK
disjoin divide leave resign separate withdraw

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For the personal item Nasa allows astronauts to take up with them, Wiseman plans to take a small notepad so that he can jot down his thoughts during the mission.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Meanwhile, William has dumped his longtime girlfriend to take up with another — a messy situation.

From Washington Post • Mar. 20, 2022

He also suggested that it didn’t deserve to be part of Social Security at all, a point he was welcome to take up with Congress, which enacted it in 1956.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2021

By the way, whoever is in a league with Smith has a legitimate gripe to take up with the league's commissioner.

From Golf Digest • Aug. 7, 2019

Joe Trace counted on flirty laughing women to buy his wares, and he knew better than to take up with any of them.

From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.