take

1 to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms <take my hand, or we'll get separated in this crowd> Synonyms clasp, grasp, grip, hold Related Words clench, cling (to), clutch, hold on (to); catch, nab, seize, snatch Phrases hang on to, lay hold of Near Antonyms discharge, drop, free, liberate, release; deliver, entrust (also intrust), give, hand, hand over, pass, relinquish, transfer, transmit, turn over, unhand

2 to agree to receive whether willingly or reluctantly <will you take that call?> <took a cut in pay> Synonyms accept, have Related Words accede (to), assent (to), concede (to), confirm, consent (to), OK (or okay), ratify, sanction, warrant; acquiesce (to), bow (to), capitulate (to), give in (to), submit (to), succumb (to), surrender (to), yield (to); abide, bear, brook, countenance, endure, shoulder, stand, stick out, stomach, support, sustain, swallow, sweat out, tolerate; adopt, embrace, welcome Near Antonyms dissent (to), object (to), oppose, protest; hold off, resist, withstand; combat, contest, fight Antonyms decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, refuse, reject, spurn, turn down, veto

3 to become affected with (a disease or disorder) <if you don't cover your head in this weather, you'll take cold and be stuck inside all weekend> Synonyms catch, come down (with), get, go down (with) [chiefly British], sicken (with), contractRelated Words break out (with); die (from), succumb (to); fail, languish, sink, waste (away), weaken, wilt, wither, worsenNear Antonyms come back, gain, heal, mend, recoup, recover, recuperate, snap back; rally, rebound, recover (from), shake (off)

4 to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities <you can take the white side this time, since I got to be white for our last chess game> Synonyms cherry-pick, cull, elect, handpick, name, opt (for), pick, prefer, select, single (out), tag, chooseRelated Words preselect; appoint, designate, fix, mark, nominate, set, tab, tap; accept, adopt, embrace, espouse; settle (on or upon)Near Antonyms disapprove, negative, repudiate, spurn; discard, jettison, throw away, throw outAntonyms decline, refuse, reject, turn down

5 to get possession of (something) by giving money in exchange for <I'll take two cheeseburgers to go, please> Synonyms cop [slang], pick up, purchase, buyRelated Words acquire, gain, garner, get, obtain, procure, secure, win; finance, pay (for), spring (for); barter (for), deal (for), dicker (over), exchange (for), haggle (for), negotiate (about), trade (for); bargain (with), chaffer (with), horse-trade (with), palter (with); bid, offer; rebuy, repurchaseNear Antonyms deal (in), market, merchandise (also merchandize), retail, sell, vend

6 to have as a requirement <it will take a lot of courage to stand up for what is right> Synonyms bear, challenge, claim, demand, necessitate, require, need, want, warrantRelated Words entail, involve; ask, beg, claim, clamor (for), cry (for); hurt (for), lack; command, enjoin, exact, insist, press, quest, stipulateNear Antonyms own, possessAntonyms have, hold

7 to make or have room for <I think we can take two more in this elevator> Synonyms fit, hold, accommodateRelated Words carry, contain, seat; enclose (also inclose), encompass, enfold; harbor, house

8 to produce a desired effect <it will be a few hours before this medication takes> Synonyms operate, perform, act, workRelated Words behave, react, respond; affect, influence, sway; pan out, redound, resultNear Antonyms backfire; fizzle