take after

verb

took after; taken after; taking after; takes after

: to resemble (someone) in features, build, character, or disposition

a daughter who takes after her mother

"That's Tulliver's son," said the publican to a grocer standing on the adjacent door-step. "Ah!" said the grocer, "I thought I knew his features. He takes after his mother's family."—

George Eliot

"His father was lazy but his mother hasn't a lazy bone in her body, and Peter takes after her."—

Lucy Maud Montgomery

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Corrective actions taken after that earlier report were not sufficient to address the problem, the state auditor concluded in the new audit. —

Luz Lazo, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2023 Duke takes after big brother Drake and their dad with his good sense of humor. —

Jacqueline Weiss, Peoplemag, 23 Mar. 2023 Other polls taken after the Uvalde shooting also found significant support for several new gun regulations. —

Dakin Andone, CNN, 29 Mar. 2023 The video was taken after Garcia was interviewed at her house. —

Krista Torralva, Dallas News, 29 Mar. 2023 Really, though, only Dodds's character, Marguerite, is evil, taking after their haughty mother, Romilla (Anjelica Houston). —

Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 28 Mar. 2023 The poll was taken after the failure of two regional banks – Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank – this month. —

Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2023 Brendan Gleeson's children take after their famous father. —

Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2023 Yes, there is some profit taking after a big move in offshore China (HK and US China ADRs). —

Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'take after.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.