take root

idiomatic phrase

1

of a plant : to grow and develop roots : to become rooted

… damage to the ecosystem makes it easier for nonnative plants … to take root and crowd out native vegetation.

—Mary K. Miller

2

: to become fixed or established

… providing the steadiness and resolve needed to ensure that civilizations can take root and flourish.

—Greg Grandin

A monstrous suspicion had begun to take root in his mind.

—P. G. Wodehouse

Examples of take root in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some of the extended coverage may offer simple blocking and tackling various theories that start to take root on social media. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 24 Oct. 2024

The baobab trade, which took root in her area in 2018, would previously supplement things like children’s school fees and clothing for locals of the small town of Kotwa in northeastern Zimbabwe. —Farai Mutsaka, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2024

Constellation's Monteiro said the emphasis on the Hispanic community has taken root in the company's focus on building a diverse workforce. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2024

More extreme conspiracy theories have also taken root, including claims that politicians manipulated the weather to target Republican areas and that the government is trying to seize land in North Carolina to mine lithium. —Layla Ferris, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1