take time

idiom

: 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.

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 Additionally, a portion of the funds raised exists in pledges, which might take time to materialize in the library’s bank account, Zitzer said. —

Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2024 The finish can take a beating, so take time every few months to touch up here and there. —

Kenzi Wilbur, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2024 The park also advises visitors to rely on their skills and equipment for emergencies, as park rangers can be difficult to reach, and emergency responses and evacuation can take time. —

Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 16 Aug. 2024 The park also warns visitors to rely on their own skills and equipment for emergencies, as park rangers can be difficult to reach, and emergency responses and evacuation can take time. —

Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, 14 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for take time

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'take time.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.