take on

verb

took on; taken on; taking on; takes on

transitive verb

1

a

: to begin to perform or deal with : undertake

took on new responsibilities

b

: to contend with as an opponent

took on the neighborhood bully

2

: engage, hire

3

a

: to assume or acquire as or as if one's own

… the city's plaza takes on a carnival air.

—W. T. LeViness

b

: to have as a mathematical domain or range

what values does the function take on

intransitive verb

: to show one's feelings especially of grief or anger in a demonstrative way

… she cried, and took on like a distracted body …

—Daniel Defoe

Synonyms of take on

• meet
• face
• encounter

Examples of take on in a Sentence

will take on his chief opponent in the next political debate

decided to take her on as store manager

Recent Examples on the Web

While this trope can take on a sexist tinge, considering many men use it to mock, criticize, or dismiss legitimate female frustration (or even pain), there is definitely some truth to the idea that women can experience changes in appetite in the days leading up to that time of the month. —Caroline Tien, SELF, 25 Feb. 2026

This northern Japanese delicacy is cherished for its meltingly sweet flesh, which takes on a light pink color because of the species' shrimp-heavy diet. —Alex Halberstadt, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026

The story takes on an even more sinister air when Jennifer and Fernando reunite in Mexico. —ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026

Thea has taken on the mission of reforming Ejlert Lovborg (Alexander Hurt), Hedda’s former lover, a brilliant intellectual whose alcoholism has been in check under Thea’s steadying influence. —Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for take on

• aileron
• antiphon
• autobahn
• carillon
• castellan
• celadon
• cephalon
• chitosan
• cynodon
• denouement
• deuteron
• echelon

Kids Definition

take on

verb

1

: to struggle with as an opponent

2

: employ entry 1 sense 2

took on more workers

3

: to acquire (as an appearance or quality) as one's own

take on weight

4

: to make an unusual show of one's feelings especially of grief or anger

don't take on so