retake

1 of 2

verb

re·​take (ˌ)rē-ˈtāk 

retook (ˌ)rē-ˈtu̇k  ; retaken (ˌ)rē-ˈtā-kən  ; retaking

transitive verb

1

: to take or receive again

2

: recapture

3

: to photograph again

retake

2 of 2

noun

re·​take ˈrē-ˌtāk 

: a subsequent filming, photographing, or recording undertaken to improve upon the first

also : an instance of this

Synonyms

Verb

• recapture
• regain
• retrieve
• recover
• reclaim

Examples of retake in a Sentence

Verb

They helped their party retake the Senate.

He retook the lead close to the finish line.

We will have to retake the photograph.

Students can retake the test.

Noun

The director called for a retake.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

And that’s the point where there’s a real chance that the Democrats could claim a pretty decisive electoral victory and yet fail to retake the House, or only barely retake it. —Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025

The Democrats remain an outside bet to win a majority in the Senate next year, but have a much stronger chance of retaking the House. —Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025

Noun

Beth Mead missed England’s first spot-kick after a retake, putting Spain ahead in the shout-out. —Callum Sutherland, Time, 28 July 2025

The baseline can be either their initial TCAP English language arts score or their retake score. —Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1913, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for retake

• awake
• backache
• beefsteak
• betake
• cheesecake
• cupcake
• daybreak
• earthquake
• eastlake
• forsake
• handshake
• headache

Kids Definition

retake

1 of 2 verb

re·​take (ˈ)rē-ˈtāk 

retook -ˈtu̇k  ; retaken -ˈtā-kən  ; retaking

: to take again

especially : to photograph again

retake

2 of 2 noun

re·​take ˈrē-ˌtāk 

: a second photographing, filming, or recording to improve upon the first