1
: to get into one's hands or into one's possession, power, or control: such as
a
: to seize or capture physically
took them as prisoners
b
: 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
d
: to acquire by eminent domain
3
4
a
: to receive into one's body (as by swallowing, drinking, or inhaling)
take a pill
b
: to put oneself into (sun, air, water, etc.) for pleasure or physical benefit
c
: to partake of : eat
takes dinner about seven
5
a
: to bring or receive into a relation or connection
takes just four students a year
it's time he took a wife
b
: to copulate with
6
: to transfer into one's own keeping:
a
: appropriate
someone took my hat
b
: 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
7
a
: 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
d
: 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
f
: to assume as if rightfully one's own or as if granted
take the credit
g
: to accept the burden or consequences of
took the blame
h
: to have or assume as a proper part of or accompaniment to itself
transitive verbs take an object
8
a
: to secure by winning in competition
took first place
b
: defeat
10
: to adopt, choose, or avail oneself of for use: such as
a
: to have recourse to as an instrument for doing something
take a scythe to the weeds
b
: to use as a means of transportation or progression
take the bus
c
: to have recourse to for safety or refuge
take shelter
d
: to go along, into, or through
took a different route
11
a
: 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
12
c
: to indulge in and enjoy
was taking his ease on the porch
d
: to receive or accept as a return (as in payment, compensation, or reparation)
we don't take credit cards
e
: to accept in a usually professional relationship
—often used with on
agreed to take him on as a client
f
: to refrain from hitting at (a pitched ball)
take a strike
13
a(1)
: to let in : admit
the boat was taking water fast
(2)
: accommodate
the suitcase wouldn't take another thing
b
: to be affected injuriously by (something, such as a disease) : contract
take cold
also
: to be seized by
take a fit
take fright
c
: to absorb or become impregnated with (something, such as dye)
also
: to be effectively treated by
a surface that takes a fine polish
14
a
: apprehend, understand
how should I take your remark
d
: feel, experience
take pleasure
take an instant dislike to someone
take offense
15
a
: to lead, carry, or cause to go along to another place
this bus will take you into town
took an umbrella with her
b
: to cause to move to a specified state, condition, or sphere of activity
took the company public
took his team to the finals
c
: 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 + outHe took her out to dinner.
d
: to stop prescribing a specified regimen to
—used with off
took him off the medication
16
17
a
: to undertake and make, do, or perform
take a walk
take aim
take legal action
take a test
take a look
b
: to participate in
take a meeting
18
a
: to deal with
take first things first
b
: 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
19
: to obtain money from especially fraudulently
took me for all I had
20
: to pass or attempt to pass through, along, or over
took the curve too fast
take the stairs two at a time
1
3
: to establish a take especially by uniting or growing
90 percent of the grafts take
4
a
: to betake oneself : set out : go
take after a purse snatcher
b
chiefly dialectal
—used as an intensifier or redundantly with a following verb
took and swung at the ball
5
7
: detract
8
: to be seized or attacked in a specified way : become
took sick
taker
noun
see also take a back seat, take a bath, take account of, take advantage of, take after, take a hike, take aim at, take apart, take a powder, take care, take care of, take charge, take effect, take exception, take five, take for, take for granted, take form, take heart, take hold, take in vain, take issue, take it on the chin, take kindly to, take no prisoners, take-no-prisoners, take notice, take one's time, take part, take place, take root, take shape, take ship, take the cake, take the count, take the floor, take the mickey (out of someone), take the plunge, take to, take to court, take to task, take to the cleaners, take turns
1
: 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
2
: 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
b
: the action of killing, capturing, or catching something (such as game or fish)
3
: something that is taken:
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
e
: a section or installment done as a unit or at one time
4
a
: a local or systemic reaction indicative of successful vaccination (as against smallpox)
b
: a successful union (as of a graft)
5
: a visible response or reaction (as to something unexpected)
a delayed take
Synonyms
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
Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 28 Oct. 2024
However, as the quest to be superior to competitors continues to drive retailers, especially as AI’s capabilities get more refined, personalization has taken its spot at center stage.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 28 Oct. 2024
Radhika Seth, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2024
For a softer take, try mixing fabrics and textures; suede cowboy boots can soften a statement leather outfit while remaining bang on trend.
—Alicia Lansom, refinery29.com, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for take 
Verb
After the Nabataean Kingdom lost control to Trajan’s legions in 106 CE, however, the Romans took control of the trade networks and the Nabataeans lost their source of wealth.
—Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 28 Oct. 2024
However, as the quest to be superior to competitors continues to drive retailers, especially as AI’s capabilities get more refined, personalization has taken its spot at center stage.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 28 Oct. 2024
Noun
After the first take, Sean and I looked at each other, because to, like, actually jump in and film those scenes was scary.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2024
For a softer take, try mixing fabrics and textures; suede cowboy boots can soften a statement leather outfit while remaining bang on trend.
—Alicia Lansom, refinery29.com, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for take
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'take.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near take
Cite this Entry
“Take.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
take
1 of 2 verb1
: to lay hold of : grasp
take my hand
2
: capture entry 2 sense 1
take a fort
3
: win entry 1 sense 3a
take first prize
4
: to get possession of (as by buying, capturing, or killing)
took several trout with hook and line
5
: to seize and affect suddenly
taken with a fever
7
: extract entry 1 sense 4
take material from an encyclopedia
8
: subtract sense 1
take 78 from 112
9
: to put an end to (as life)
10
: to find out by testing or examining
take a patient's temperature
11
: select entry 1, choose
I took the red one
12
: assume sense 1
take office
take charge
13
a
: to let in and hold : admit, accommodate
the boat was taking water fast
the suitcase won't take another thing
b
: to be affected harmfully by (as a disease) : contract
take a cold
c
: to become soaked with or make part of itself : absorb
this cloth takes dye very well
plants take up water
14
: to be guided by : follow
take my advice
15
: to introduce into the body
take your medicine
16
a
: to submit to
took the punishment without complaining
b
: withstand
can take a lot of punishment
17
a
: to subscribe to
takes two newspapers
b
: to enroll in for study
take a course in history
take piano lessons
c
: to keep from swinging at (a baseball pitch)
take a strike
18
a
: understand sense 3, interpret
I took it to mean something different
b
: consider sense 3
wanted to be taken for a genius
19
: to react in a certain way
take pride in one's work
take offense
20
: to be formed or used with
this verb takes an object
21
: to lead, carry, or cause to go along to another place
take a package home
take me to your leader
22
a
: to make use of
take a vacation
b
: to proceed to occupy
take a chair
23
: need entry 2 sense 2, require
this job takes a lot of time
I take a larger size
24
: to obtain an image or copy of
take a photograph
take fingerprints
25
: to set out to make, do, or perform
take a walk
took a new job
26
: to set out or go
take after the escaped prisoner
27
: to have effect (as by absorption)
a dye that takes well
taker
noun
Medical Definition
take
2 of 2 noun1
: a local or systemic reaction indicative of successful vaccination
2
: a successful union (as of a graft)
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