Verbs

(v)absorb, suck, imbibe, soak up, sop up, suck up, draw, take in, take uptake in, also metaphorically“The sponge absorbs water well”, “She drew strength from the minister's words”
(v)cozy up, cotton up, shine up, play up, sidle up, suck upingratiate oneself to; often with insincere behavior“She is playing up to the chairman”
(v)fawn, toady, truckle, bootlick, kowtow, kotow, suck uptry to gain favor by cringing or flattering“He is always kowtowing to his boss”