take

1 of 2

verb

ˈtāk

took ˈtu̇k

; taken ˈtā-kən

; taking

Synonyms of take next

transitive verb

: to get into one's hands or into one's possession, power, or control: such as

: to seize or capture physically

took them as prisoners

: to get possession of (fish or game) by killing or capturing

c(1)

: to move against (an opponent's piece, as in chess) and remove from play

(2)

: to win in a card game

able to take 12 tricks

: to acquire by eminent domain

: grasp, grip

take the ax by the handle

: to catch or attack through the effect of a sudden force or influence

taken with a fit of laughing

taken ill

: to catch or come upon in a particular situation or action

was taken unawares

: to gain the approval or liking of : captivate, delight

was quite taken with her at their first meeting

: to receive into one's body (as by swallowing, drinking, or inhaling)

take a pill

: to put oneself into (sun, air, water, etc.) for pleasure or physical benefit

: to partake of : eat

takes dinner about seven

: to bring or receive into a relation or connection

takes just four students a year

it's time he took a wife

: to copulate with

: to transfer into one's own keeping:

: appropriate

someone took my hat

: to obtain or secure for use (as by lease, subscription, or purchase)

take a cottage for the summer

I'll take the red one

took an ad in the paper

: assume

gods often took the likeness of a human being

when the college took its present form

b(1)

: to enter into or undertake the duties of

take a job

take office

(2)

: to move onto or into : move into position on

the home team took the field

take the witness stand

c(1)

: to bind oneself by

take the oath of office

(2)

: to make (a decision) especially with finality or authority

: to impose upon oneself

take the trouble to do good work

take pains to make her feel welcome

e(1)

: to adopt as one's own

take a stand on the issue

take an interest

(2)

: to align or ally oneself with

mother took his side

: to assume as if rightfully one's own or as if granted

take the credit

: to accept the burden or consequences of

took the blame

: to have or assume as a proper part of or accompaniment to itself

transitive verbs take an object

: to secure by winning in competition

took first place

: defeat

: to pick out : choose, select

took the best apple

: to adopt, choose, or avail oneself of for use: such as

: to have recourse to as an instrument for doing something

take a scythe to the weeds

: to use as a means of transportation or progression

take the bus

: to have recourse to for safety or refuge

take shelter

: to go along, into, or through

took a different route

e(1)

: to proceed to occupy

take a seat in the rear

(2)

: to use up (space, time, etc.)

takes a long time to dry

(3)

: need, require

takes a size nine shoe

it takes two to start a fight

: to obtain by deriving from a source : draw

takes its title from the name of the hero

b(1)

: to obtain as the result of a special procedure : ascertain

take the temperature

take a census

(2)

: to get in or as if in writing

take notes

take an inventory

(3)

: to get by drawing or painting or by photography

take a snapshot

(4)

: to get by transference from one surface to another

take a proof

take fingerprints

: to receive or accept whether willingly or reluctantly

take a bribe

will you take this call

take a bet

: such as

a(1)

: to submit to : endure

take a cut in pay

(2)

: withstand

it will take a lot of punishment

(3)

: suffer

took a direct hit

b(1)

: to accept as true : believe

I'll take your word for it

(2)

: follow

take my advice

(3)

: to accept or regard with the mind in a specified way

took the news hard

you take yourself too seriously

: to indulge in and enjoy

was taking his ease on the porch

: to receive or accept as a return (as in payment, compensation, or reparation)

we don't take credit cards

: to accept in a usually professional relationship

—often used with on

agreed to take him on as a client

: to refrain from hitting at (a pitched ball)

take a strike

a(1)

: to let in : admit

the boat was taking water fast

(2)

: accommodate

the suitcase wouldn't take another thing

: to be affected injuriously by (something, such as a disease) : contract

take cold

also : to be seized by

take a fit

take fright

: to absorb or become impregnated with (something, such as dye)

also : to be effectively treated by

a surface that takes a fine polish

: apprehend, understand

how should I take your remark

: consider, suppose

I take it you're not going

: reckon, accept

taking a stride at 30 inches

: feel, experience

take pleasure

take an instant dislike to someone

take offense

: to lead, carry, or cause to go along to another place

this bus will take you into town

took an umbrella with her

: to cause to move to a specified state, condition, or sphere of activity

took the company public

took his team to the finals

: to invite and accompany (someone)

She took me to the movies.

He took her on a date.

They took the kids to the movies.

—often + out

He took her out to dinner.

: to stop prescribing a specified regimen to

—used with off

took him off the medication

: remove

take eggs from a nest

b(1)

: to put an end to (life)

(2)

: to remove by death

was taken in his prime

: subtract

take two from four

: exact

the weather took its toll

: to undertake and make, do, or perform

take a walk

take aim

take legal action

take a test

take a look

: to participate in

take a meeting

: to deal with

take first things first

: to consider or view in a particular relation

taken together, the details were significant

especially : to consider as an example

take style, for instance

c(1)

: to apply oneself to the study of

take music lessons

take French

(2)

: to study for especially successfully

taking a degree in engineering

took holy orders

: to obtain money from especially fraudulently

took me for all I had

: to pass or attempt to pass through, along, or over

took the curve too fast

take the stairs two at a time

intransitive verb

: to obtain possession: such as

: capture

: to receive property under law as one's own

: to lay hold : catch, hold

: to establish a take especially by uniting or growing

90 percent of the grafts take

: to betake oneself : set out : go

take after a purse snatcher

chiefly dialectal

—used as an intensifier or redundantly with a following verb

took and swung at the ball

: to take effect : act, operate

hoped the lesson he taught would take

: to show the natural or intended effect

dry fuel takes readily

: charm, captivate

a taking smile

: detract

: to be seized or attacked in a specified way : become

took sick

taker noun

take

2 of 2

noun

: a distinct or personal point of view, outlook, or assessment

was asked for her take on recent developments

also : a distinct treatment or variation

a new take on an old style

: an act or the action of taking: such as

a(1)

: the uninterrupted photographing or televising of a scene

(2)

: the making of a sound recording

: the action of killing, capturing, or catching something (such as game or fish)

: something that is taken:

: the amount of money received : proceeds, receipts, income

: share, cut

wanted a bigger take

c(1)

: a scene filmed or televised at one time without stopping the camera

(2)

: a sound recording made during a single recording period

especially : a trial recording

: the number or quantity (as of animals, fish, or pelts) taken at one time : catch, haul

: a section or installment done as a unit or at one time

: a local or systemic reaction indicative of successful vaccination (as against smallpox)

: a successful union (as of a graft)

: a visible response or reaction (as to something unexpected)

a delayed take

Phrases

on the take

: illegally paid for favors

Choose the Right Synonym for take

take, seize, grasp, clutch, snatch, grab mean to get hold of by or as if by catching up with the hand.

take is a general term applicable to any manner of getting something into one's possession or control.

take some salad from the bowl

seize implies a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of something tangible or an apprehending of something fleeting or elusive when intangible.

seized the suspect

grasp stresses a laying hold so as to have firmly in possession.

grasp the handle and pull

clutch suggests avidity or anxiety in seizing or grasping and may imply less success in holding.

clutching her purse

snatch suggests more suddenness or quickness but less force than seize.

snatched a doughnut and ran

grab implies more roughness or rudeness than snatch.

grabbed roughly by the arm

Examples of take in a Sentence

Verb She took her things to her room. It looks like rain. You had better take an umbrella with you. This bus takes you downtown. Her office is down that hallway. I can take you there, if you want me to. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance. She took us for a ride in her new car. He's not the kind of guy you can take home to meet your parents. She took her child to one side and scolded him. I took the pen and signed my name. Take the pan by the handle. Noun It took us 20 takes to get the scene right. She nailed it on the first take. He stands to earn 10 percent of the company's $1 million take on the deal. She was expecting a bigger take.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Verb

The latest election results showed an even split of incumbents and new faces taking the dais in Gilroy. —

Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024 Since then, warming temperatures have taken a toll. —

Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024

Noun

His political takes are even more provocative, meant to arouse, anger and annoy but also to provoke push-back, stirring debate and discussion. —

Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024 Newsweek asked pollsters and strategists for their takes. —

David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for take

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English tacan, from Old Norse taka; akin to Middle Dutch taken to take

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler

The first known use of take was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing take

Articles Related to take

'Bring' vs. 'Take'

We can bring it if you can take it.

Where Do 'Hot Takes' Come From?

The term is older than most Internet journalism

Spit Take

Don't drink anything while reading this

Cite this Entry

Style

“Take.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

take

1 of 2 verb

ˈtāk

took ˈtu̇k

; taken ˈtā-kən

; taking

: to lay hold of : grasp

take my hand

: capture entry 2 sense 1

take a fort

: win entry 1 sense 3a

take first prize

: to get possession of (as by buying, capturing, or killing)

took several trout with hook and line

: to seize and affect suddenly

taken with a fever

: captivate, delight

was much taken with the new neighbors

: extract entry 1 sense 4

take material from an encyclopedia

: subtract sense 1

take 78 from 112

: to put an end to (as life)

: to find out by testing or examining

take a patient's temperature

: select entry 1, choose

I took the red one

: assume sense 1

take office

take charge

: to let in and hold : admit, accommodate

the boat was taking water fast

the suitcase won't take another thing

: to be affected harmfully by (as a disease) : contract

take a cold

: to become soaked with or make part of itself : absorb

this cloth takes dye very well

plants take up water

: to be guided by : follow

take my advice

: to introduce into the body

take your medicine

: to submit to

took the punishment without complaining

: withstand

can take a lot of punishment

: to subscribe to

takes two newspapers

: to enroll in for study

take a course in history

take piano lessons

: to keep from swinging at (a baseball pitch)

take a strike

: understand sense 3, interpret

I took it to mean something different

: consider sense 3

wanted to be taken for a genius

: to react in a certain way

take pride in one's work

take offense

: to be formed or used with

this verb takes an object

: to lead, carry, or cause to go along to another place

take a package home

take me to your leader

: to make use of

take a vacation

: to proceed to occupy

take a chair

: need entry 2 sense 2, require

this job takes a lot of time

I take a larger size

: to obtain an image or copy of

take a photograph

take fingerprints

: to set out to make, do, or perform

take a walk

took a new job

: to set out or go

take after the escaped prisoner

: to have effect (as by absorption)

a dye that takes well

taker noun

take

2 of 2 noun

: an act or the action of taking

: something taken : proceeds, catch

: a scene filmed or televised at one time without stopping the camera

: a sound recording made during a single recording period

: mental response or reaction

Medical Definition

take

1 of 2 intransitive verb

ˈtāk

took ˈtu̇k

; taken ˈtā-kən

; taking

: to establish a take especially by uniting or growing

with an experienced surgeon some 90 percent of the grafts take—

Lancet

of a vaccine or vaccination : to produce a take

take

2 of 2 noun

: a local or systemic reaction indicative of successful vaccination

: a successful union (as of a graft)

Legal Definition

take

verb

took; taken; taking

transitive verb

: to obtain control, custody, or possession of often by assertive or intentional means

: to seize or interfere with the use of (property) by governmental authority

specifically : to acquire title to for public use by eminent domain

: to undertake the duties of

take office

: to bind oneself by

take an oath

: to get in writing

: to accept the tender of (as a promise)

: to accept (as an oath, affidavit, or deposition) in a legal capacity (as by administering or witnessing)

: to set in motion

take an appeal

: to claim or exercise as an option or right

take depreciation

: to put or set forth

take an exception

intransitive verb

: to obtain ownership or possession of property

take free of a security interest

specifically : to receive the title to an estate

take as an heir

Last Updated: 12 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

negotiate

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

take

verb

noun

Synonyms

Examples of take in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near take

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

Legal Definition