take-in

1 of 2

noun

ˈtā-ˌkin 

: an act of taking in especially by deceiving

take in

2 of 2

verb

took in; taken in; taking in; takes in

transitive verb

1

a

: to receive as a guest or lodger

b

: to give shelter to

c

: to take to a police station as a prisoner

2

: to draw into a smaller compass

take in the slack of a line

:

a

: to make (a garment) smaller by enlarging seams or tucks

b

: furl

3

: to receive as payment or proceeds

4

: to receive (work) into one's house to be done for pay

take in washing

5

: to encompass within its limits

6

a

: to include in an itinerary

b

: attend

take in a movie

7

: to receive into the mind : perceive

took in the view

8

: deceive, dupe

Synonyms

Verb

• bamboozle
• beguile
• bluff
• buffalo
• burn
• catch
• con
• cozen
• deceive
• delude
• dupe
• fake out
• fool
• gaff
• gammon
• gull
• have
• have on [chiefly British]
• hoax
• hoodwink
• hornswoggle
• humbug
• juggle
• misguide
• misinform
• mislead
• snooker
• snow
• spoof
• string along
• suck in
• sucker
• trick

Examples of take-in in a Sentence

Verb

a fellow passenger on the cruise completely took me in when he claimed to be the owner of a major software company

this report takes in all the latest information on the subject

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the Seattle area, the Northwest Community Bail Fund’s annual take-in blew up from a mere $158,000 to about $5.7 million. —Rob Kuznia, CNN, 21 Mar. 2023

Verb

What used to be a six-week project with live birds in the store for families to take in on a Saturday outing is now an eight-month event with clusters of fluffy baby chicks on display in stores under heat lamps with feed and water. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 4 May 2024

Overseas, it is projected to take in another $25.8 million over the weekend, which would bring its global haul to $65.4 million. —Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 May 2024

There to take in Chanel’s latest assortment of seaside tweeds and nautical accents? —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 3 May 2024

But while anyone interested in owning these kinds of pets might have their own reasons, taking in any animal is no simple feat — much less an exotic pet. —Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 2 May 2024

The conditions of the five who were taken in for medical care are currently unknown. —Jon Haworth, ABC News, 2 May 2024

The hillside plot takes in sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. —Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024

In photos from the event, the parents hugged Charlie and smiled widely while taking in the ceremony. —Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 1 May 2024

Almost every room has a terrace for taking in the scenic grounds. —Pueng Vongs, The Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1778, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1518, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

take in

verb

1

a

: to reduce the length of

take in a slack line

b

: to make smaller by enlarging seams or tucks

take in a coat

2

a

: to receive as a guest or resident

b

: to give shelter to

3

: to receive and do at home for pay

take in washing

4

: to include within fixed limits

the camp took in several acres

5

: attend sense 4

take in a movie

6

: to observe and think about so as to understand

paused to take the situation in

7

: to deceive so as to take advantage of

taken in by a hard luck story