take after

verb

took after; taken after; taking after; takes after

transitive verb

: 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

Examples of take after in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

No vote was taken after a public hearing on Veer Development’s rezoning request. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2026

Photos of Bellin's injuries taken after the incident showed Bellin with blood running down her face and left arm and hand. — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Sandra Bullock’s two kids are taking after their mom by acting on the big screen. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 1 Sep. 2026

That’s the positive cornerback Kaiir Elam took after learning Sunday his contract had been terminated. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1627, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for take after

• hereinafter
• thereinafter
• drafter
• laughter
• rafter
• hereafter
• thereafter