take for

verb

took for; taken for; taking for; takes for

transitive verb

: to suppose (someone) to be (a particular kind of person) : to perceive (someone) as (something)

What do you take me for?

"I think I do understand. I'm not such a dull fellow as you take me for."

—Lucy Maud Montgomery

… a usually commonsensical fellow who was anything but the … clod some people took him for.

—Robert Sherrill

Please do not take me for a wimp—one of those pallid, selfless creatures who shuns disagreements entirely.

—Maggie Scarf

Examples of take for in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

American citizenship is a privilege and a responsibility and should not be taken for granted. — Eric J. Gertler, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026

Such bounty is never taken for granted in China, which must feed a sixth of the world’s population on less than 10% of its arable land. — Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2026

Turns out retirement didn’t quite take for Steven Tyler and the rest of Aerosmith. — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026

The bottle of spicy mayo got taken for cleaning and sanitizing. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for take for

• albacore
• alongshore
• antiwar
• anymore
• carnivore
• commodore
• dinosaur
• evermore
• furthermore
• guarantor
• herbivore
• heretofore