take time

idiom

1
: to need or require time to happen or be done
You have to be patient. Things like this take time.
It may take some time for the medication to wear off.
The meeting won't take too much time.
This job is easy and will take no time at all.
2
or take the time : to use an amount of time in order to do something important
They never took the time to get to know her.
I took some time to think about it, and my answer is still "no."

Examples of take time in a Sentence

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.
Transformative technologies often take time to mature, but when the right conditions align, adoption can accelerate at an astonishing pace. Steve Case, Time, 1 Apr. 2025 The council voted 3-2 to begin the process of applying for the designation, which will take time for studies and other preparations before the city staff returns to the council with results for approval. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025 The network will take time to build up and some schools may not qualify or choose not to apply. Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2025 As with all work involving trees, reaching that point will take time—decades of commitment to research, experimentation, and implementation. Ben Seal, JSTOR Daily, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for take time

Cite this Entry

“Take time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20time. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

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