take to
verb
took to; taken to; taking to; takes to
1
: to go to or into (a place)
take to the woods/hills
Thousands of people took to the streets in protest. [=went out into the streets to protest]
He took to the airwaves [=he spoke on the radio] with his message.
2
: to begin doing (something) as a habit or regular practice
take to drink
—usually used with a following present participletake to drinking/smoking
He's recently taken to staying up late on weekends.
A few of her classmates took to calling her Pipi, after Pippi Longstocking …—
Calvin Tomkins
Calvin TomkinsRecently, he'd taken to wearing tuxedos and suits and had gotten a new car, she said.—Laura Italiano and Tamar Lapin
Laura Italiano and Tamar Lapin3
: to adapt oneself to
They haven't taken well to the new schedule.
4
: to start to have a liking for
I took to her immediately.
He tried skiing and took to it quickly. [=he quickly learned how to ski and liked doing it]
Note: To take to something like a duck (takes) to water is to begin to do it, use it, etc., in a very quick, easy, and natural way.
She took to horseback riding like a duck to water.
Deanna takes to student life like a duck takes to water, doing all the things that we all did …—Joe Anderton
see also take kindly to
Joe AndertonExamples of take to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite aerial support and rapid response, the park said, all three were found dead on two trails — the South Kaibab Trail and the North Kaibab Trail — and taken to the Cococino County Medical Examiner’s Office.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 20 June 2026
Three people were taken to medical facilities and six others were treated on site, DAEH said.
—CNN Money, 20 June 2026
The toddler was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said.
—Allison Gibson, Sacbee.com, 20 June 2026
The child is expected to survive and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
—Brandon Downs, CBS News, 20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for take to
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Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 20 June 2026
Three people were taken to medical facilities and six others were treated on site, DAEH said.
—CNN Money, 20 June 2026
The toddler was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said.
—Allison Gibson, Sacbee.com, 20 June 2026
The child is expected to survive and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
—Brandon Downs, CBS News, 20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for take to
Cite this Entry
“Take to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20to. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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