SINCE 1828
take
verb
\ ˈtāk
\
\
took\ ˈtu̇k
\;
taken\ ˈtā-kən
\;
taking
\;
taken\ ˈtā-kən
\;
taking
Definition of take
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: to get into one's hands or into one's possession, power, or control: such as
a
: to seize or capture physically
took them as prisoners
b
: to get possession of (fish or game) by killing or capturing
c(1)
: to move against (an opponent's piece, as in in chess) and remove from play
(2)
: to win in a card game
able to take 12 tricks
d
: to acquire by eminent domain
3a
: to catch or attack through the effect of a sudden force or influence
taken with a fit of laughing taken ill
b
: to catch or come upon in a particular situation or action
was taken unawares
4a
: to receive into one's body (as by swallowing, drinking, or inhaling)
take a pill
b
: to put oneself into (sun, air, water, etc.) for pleasure or physical benefit
c
: to partake of : eat
takes dinner about seven
5a
: to bring or receive into a relation or connection
takes just four students a year it's time he took a wife
b
: to copulate with
6
: to transfer into one's own keeping:
a
: appropriate
someone took my hat
b
: to obtain or secure for use (as by lease, subscription, or purchase)
take a cottage for the summer I'll take the red one took an ad in the paper
7a
: assume
gods often took the likeness of a human being when the college took its present form
b(1)
: to enter into or undertake the duties of
take a job take office
(2)
: to move onto or into : move into position on
the home team took the field take the witness stand
c(1)
: to bind oneself by
take the oath of office
(2)
: to make (a decision) especially with finality or authority
d
: to impose upon oneself
take the trouble to do good work take pains to make her feel welcome
e(1)
: to adopt as one's own
take a stand on the issue take an interest
(2)
: to align or ally oneself with
mother took his side
f
: to assume as if rightfully one's own or as if granted
take the credit
g
: to accept the burden or consequences of
took the blame
h
: to have or assume as a proper part of or accompaniment to itself
transitive verbs take an object
8a
: to secure by winning in competition
took first place
b
: defeat
10
: to adopt, choose, or avail oneself of for use: such as
a
: to have recourse to as an instrument for doing something
take a scythe to the weeds
b
: to use as a means of transportation or progression
take the bus
c
: to have recourse to for safety or refuge
take shelter
d
: to go along, into, or through
took a different route
11a
: to obtain by deriving from a source : draw
takes its title from the name of the hero
b(1)
: to obtain as the result of a special procedure : ascertain
take the temperature take a census
(2)
: to get in or as if in writing
take notes take an inventory
(3)
: to get by drawing or painting or by photography
take a snapshot
(4)
: to get by transference from one surface to another
take a proof take fingerprints
c
: to indulge in and enjoy
was taking his ease on the porch
d
: to receive or accept as a return (as in payment, compensation, or reparation)
we don't take credit cards
e
: to accept in a usually professional relationship
—often used with on agreed to take him on as a client
f
: to refrain from hitting at (a pitched ball)
take a strike
13a(1)
: to let in : admit
the boat was taking water fast
(2)
: accommodate
the suitcase wouldn't take another thing
b
: to be affected injuriously by (something, such as a disease) : contract
take cold
also
: to be seized by
take a fit take fright
c
: to absorb or become impregnated with (something, such as dye)
also
: to be effectively treated by
a surface that takes a fine polish
14a
: apprehend, understand
how should I take your remark
d
: feel, experience
take pleasure take an instant dislike to someone take offense
15a
: to lead, carry, or cause to go along to another place
this bus will take you into town took an umbrella with her
b
: to cause to move to a specified state, condition, or sphere of activity
took the company public took his team to the finals
c
: to stop prescribing a specified regimen to
—used with off took him off the medication
16a
: remove
take eggs from a nest
b(1)
: to put an end to (life)
(2)
: to remove by death
was taken in his prime
c
: subtract
take two from four
d
: exact
the weather took its toll
17a
: to undertake and make, do, or perform
take a walk take aim take legal action take a test take a look
b
: to participate in
take a meeting
18a
: to deal with
take first things first
b
: to consider or view in a particular relation
taken together, the details were significant
especially
: to consider as an example
take style, for instance
c(1)
: to apply oneself to the study of
take music lessons take French
(2)
: to study for especially successfully
taking a degree in engineering took holy orders
19
: to obtain money from especially fraudulently
took me for all I had
20
: to pass or attempt to pass through, along, or over
took the curve too fast take the stairs two at a time
3
: to establish a take especially by uniting or growing
90 percent of the grafts take
4a
: to betake oneself : set out : go
take after a purse snatcher
b
chiefly dialectal
—used as an intensifier or redundantly with a following verb took and swung at the ball
b
: to show the natural or intended effect
dry fuel takes readily
7
: detract
8
: to be seized or attacked in a specified way : become
took sick
take a back seat
take a bath
take account of
take advantage of
take after
take a hike
or less commonly take a walk
take aim at
take apart
take a powder
take care
take care of
take charge
take effect
take exception
take five
or take ten
take for
take for a ride
take for granted
take heart
take hold
take into account
take in vain
take issue
take it on the chin
take kindly to
take no prisoners
take notice of
take one's time
take part
take place
take root
take shape
take ship
take the cake
take the count
take the floor
take the mickey
take the mickey out of
take the plunge
take to
take to court
take to task
take to the cleaners
take turns
: to have or assume a secondary position or status
: to suffer a heavy financial loss
: to take into account
1
: to use to advantage : profit by
: to resemble in features, build, character, or disposition
: to go away : leave
: target sense 1
new legislation that takes aim at crime
1
: to disconnect the pieces of : disassemble
2
: to treat roughly or harshly : tear into
: to leave hurriedly
: to be careful or watchful : exercise caution or prudence
: to attend to or provide for the needs, operation, or treatment of
: to assume care, custody, command, or control
1
: to become operative
2
: to be effective
: object
took exception to the remark
: to take a break especially from work
: to suppose to be
especially
: to suppose mistakenly to be
1
: to assume as true, real, or expected
2
: to value too lightly
: to gain courage or confidence
: to make allowance for
: to use (a name) profanely or without proper respect
: disagree
: to suffer from the results of a situation
: to show an inclination to accept or approve
: to be merciless or relentless (as in exploiting an advantage)
a politician who takes no prisoners
: to observe or treat with special attention
: to be leisurely about doing something
: join, participate, share
1
: to become rooted
2
: to become fixed or established
: to assume a definite or distinctive form
: set out on a voyage by ship
: to carry off the prize : rank first
1
of a boxer
: to be counted out
2
: to go down in defeat
: to rise (as in a meeting or a legislative assembly) to make a formal address
British
: to make fun of : tease
: to do or undertake something decisively especially after a period of hesitation or uncertainty
1
: to go to or into
take to the woods
2
: to apply or devote oneself to (something, such as a practice, habit, or occupation)
take to begging
3
: to adapt oneself to : respond to
takes to water like a duck
4
: to conceive a liking for
: to bring before a judicial body
especially
: sue sense 1
: to call to account for a shortcoming : criticize
: to deprive of money or possessions : clean out
take
nounDefinition of take (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: a distinct or personal point of view, outlook, or assessment
was asked for her take on recent developments
also
: a distinct treatment or variation
a new take on an old style
2
: an act or the action of taking: such as
a(1)
: the uninterrupted photographing or televising of a scene
(2)
: the making of a sound recording
b
: the action of killing, capturing, or catching something (such as game or fish)
3
: something that is taken:
c(1)
: a scene filmed or televised at one time without stopping the camera
(2)
: a sound recording made during a single recording period
especially
: a trial recording
e
: a section or installment done as a unit or at one time
4a
: a local or systemic reaction indicative of successful vaccination (as against smallpox)
b
: a successful union (as of a graft)
5
: a visible response or reaction (as to something unexpected)
a delayed take
on the take
: illegally paid for favors
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Synonyms for take
Synonyms: Verb
Synonyms: Noun
answer, reaction, reply, response
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Examples of take in a Sentence
Verb
She took her things to her room. It looks like rain. You had better take an umbrella with you. This bus takes you downtown. Her office is down that hallway. I can take you there, if you want me to. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance. She took us for a ride in her new car. He's not the kind of guy you can take home to meet your parents. She took her child to one side and scolded him. I took the pen and signed my name. Take the pan by the handle.Noun
It took us 20 takes to get the scene right. She nailed it on the first take. He stands to earn 10 percent of the company's $1 million take on the deal. She was expecting a bigger take.
Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Amazon takes about 70 percent of all e-book sales and 30 percent of all U.S. e-commerce. — Paula Dwyer, Bloomberg.com, "Should America’s Tech Giants Be Broken Up?," 20 July 2017 So my parents stopped taking me to conventional doctors altogether and started relying primarily on homeopathy and Ayurveda, a form of Indian herbal medicine, in addition to stones that apparently reflected the light of the planets. — Raka Chaki, Teen Vogue, "Vitiligo: My Journey Through Art," 20 July 2017 This isn’t an argument for asking every Muslim to ritually denounce every action taken by every individual radical. — Dan Mclaughlin, National Review, "Anti-Radical Muslims Need to Organize and Draw Lines," 20 July 2017 On this day in 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the moon and Neil Armstrong took one giant leap to became the first human to walk on it. — Ajc Homepage, ajc, "11 things you probably never knew about the historic Apollo 11 moon landing," 20 July 2017 Join the Young At Art Museum from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at D.C. Alexander Park on Fort Lauderdale Beach to take part in a collective art-making experience. — Jennifer Jhon, South Florida Parenting, "Best events for kids this weekend: Free museum day, fun fests," 19 July 2017Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The colorful graffiti printed look was originally worn by Gigi Hadid on Off-White's Spring 2019 runway, though Céline left her jacket open for a leggier take. — Lauren Alexis Fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "Celine Dion Wearing No Pants to Paris Couture Week Is Legendary," 1 July 2019 The twin-engine private plane lost an engine at take-off, sources told CBS News. — Brian Pascus, CBS News, "Twin-engine plane crash in Texas kills at least 10 people, damages two other aircrafts," 30 June 2019 Numerous think pieces and hot takes have already dissected how podcasts have eaten the world in the past few years. — Rachel King, Fortune, "Chef Marcus Samuelsson Wants to Redefine Cookbooks Through Audiobooks," 29 June 2019 Hers was a take-no-prisoners, we-are-what-you-fear argument. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, "Tracing the Internal Queer Revolution," 26 June 2019 That is until Beth Dutton, John's take-no-prisoners daughter, got involved. — Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, "Wednesday's ‘Yellowstone’ Shows Beth Dutton Dropping an Insane Amount of Money to Save the Ranch," 26 June 2019 The take-effect date for all offenses is July 1, 2020. — Greg Larose, nola.com, "Cantrell, City Council could clash over juvenile justice approach," 26 June 2019 Todd's take Todd Gillman is the Washington bureau chief for The Dallas Morning News. — Arnessa Garrett, Dallas News, "Paxton prosecutors don't get rehearing, Chip Roy's crusade continues, slavery reparations discussed, and Dallas feels fiscal squeeze," 20 June 2019 Miller's take likely won over Bacon for a few reasons. — Nathan Mattise, Ars Technica, "Kevin Bacon shares the Tremors TV pilot—Val is washed, Graboids are hungry," 9 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'take.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Dictionary Entries near take
Statistics for take
Last Updated
23 May 2019
Look-up Popularity
Time Traveler for take
The first known use of take was before the 12th century
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More Definitions for take
take a bath
verbFinancial Definition of take a bath
What It Is
To "take a bath" means to take a large loss.
How It Works
John Doe buys Company XYZ shares at $10. Two weeks later, the stock tanks to $2 a share. John Doe has to sell the shares because he has to pay an outstanding tax bill and needs the cash. He sells at a big loss and takes a bath.
take
verb
English Language Learners Definition of take
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to carry or move (something) to a place
: to carry and give (something) to a person
: to carry, move, or lead (someone) to a place
take
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of take (Entry 2 of 2)
: the way that a particular person thinks about or understands something : a distinct point of view
: a particular way of dealing with or treating something
: a scene that is filmed or a song that is recorded at one time without stopping
See the full definition for take in the English Language Learners Dictionary
take
verb
\ ˈtāk
\
\
took\ ˈtu̇k \;
taken\ ˈtā-kən \;
taking
Kids Definition of take
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: to get hold of : grasp
You should take it by the handle. He took my hand.
2
: to carry or go with from one place to another
I'll take you home. This bus will take us there.
3
: to get control of : capture
took the fort
4
: to receive into the body
Don't forget to take your medicine.
5
: to get possession or use of
She took the book from the table. We will take a cottage by the shore for the summer.
6
: to begin to perform the responsibilities of : assume
She took charge. A new mayor took office.
7
: to do the action of
Let's take a walk.
8
: to use as a way of going from one place to another
I take the bus. We'll take the highway.
9
: require sense 1
It will take a long time. I take a size ten.
10
: to put up with : endure
I don't have to take that from you.
11
: to come upon
We took them by surprise.
12
: to adopt or accept
He took my side in the argument. She took all the credit.
13
: win entry 1 sense 2
My essay took second prize.
14
: choose sense 1, select
I'll take the red one.
15
: to sit in or on
Please take a seat.
16
: to find out by testing or examining
Let me take your temperature.
17
: to save in some permanent form
He took down every word of the speech. Will you take a picture?
18
: believe sense 2
I took it to be the truth. You can take my word for it.
19
: to be guided by : follow
He refused to take my advice.
20
: to become affected suddenly
She took sick just before the holiday.
21
: understand sense 4, interpret
I took it to mean something different.
22
: to react in a certain way
They take pleasure in music. Don't take offense.
23
: subtract
Take 2 from 4.
24
: consider sense 1
For example, take this sentence …— Andrew Clements, Frindle
25
: to have effect : be successful
The vaccination took.
26
: to be formed or used with
Prepositions take objects.
take advantage of
take after
take back
take care
take care of
take charge
take effect
take for granted
take hold
take in
take off
take on
take over
take part
take place
take up
1
: to make good use of
Take advantage of your free time.
2
: to treat (someone) unfairly
: resemble
Many children take after their parents.
: to try to cancel (as something said)
I take it back. I really don't hate you.
: to be careful
: to do what is needed : look after
: to assume care or control
1
: to go into existence or operation
The new rate takes effect Monday.
2
: to have an intended or expected result
Wait for the medicine to take effect.
: to assume as true, real, or expected
: to become attached or established
The tree I planted never took hold.
1
: to make smaller
She took the dress in.
2
: to receive as a guest
We took in travelers for the night.
3
: to allow to join
The club is not taking in new members.
4
: to receive and do at home for pay
She takes in washing.
5
: to have within its limits
The tour takes in both museums.
6
: to go to
Let's take in a movie.
7
: to get the meaning of
He took in the situation at a glance.
8
: cheat entry 1 sense 1
They were taken in by an old trick.
1
: to take away (a covering) : remove
You can take your shoes off.
2
: deduct
I'm willing to take off ten percent.
3
: to leave a surface in beginning a flight or leap
The plane is taking off now.
1
: to begin (a task) or struggle against (an opponent)
She took on the champion.
2
: to gain or show as or as if a part of oneself
The city took on a carnival mood.
3
: employ entry 1 sense 1
The business will take on more workers.
4
: to make an unusual show of grief or anger
Don't take on so.
: to get control of
Military leaders took over the government.
: to do or join in something together with others
Come take part in the fun.
: to come about or occur : happen
The meeting took place yesterday.
1
: to get together from many sources
We'll take up a collection for the gift.
2
: to start something for the first time or after a pause
I'd like to take up painting. Our class took up the lesson where we left off.
3
: to change by making tighter or shorter
She needs to take up the dress in the back.
take
nounKids Definition of take (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: the number or quantity of animals or fish killed, captured, or caught
2
: money received
His take from the sale was half the price.
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take
intransitive verb
\ ˈtāk
\
\
took\ ˈtu̇k
\;
taken\ ˈtā-kən
\;
taking
\;
taken\ ˈtā-kən
\;
taking
Medical Definition of take
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: to establish a take especially by uniting or growing
with an experienced surgeon some 90 percent of the grafts take — Lancet
2
of a vaccine or vaccination
: to produce a take
take
nounMedical Definition of take (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: a local or systemic reaction indicative of successful vaccination
2
: a successful union (as of a graft)
take
verb
took;
taken;
taking
Legal Definition of take
1a
: to obtain control, custody, or possession of often by assertive or intentional means
b
: to seize or interfere with the use of (property) by governmental authority
specifically
: to acquire title to for public use by eminent domain
2a
: to undertake the duties of
take office
b
: to bind oneself by
take an oath
3
: to get in writing
4a
: to accept the tender of (as a promise)
b
: to accept (as an oath, affidavit, or deposition) in a legal capacity (as by administering or witnessing)
5a
: to set in motion
take an appeal
b
: to claim or exercise as an option or right
take depreciation
6
: to put or set forth
take an exception
: to obtain ownership or possession of property
take free of a security interest
specifically
: to receive the title to an estate
take as an heir
take the Fifth
: to exercise the privilege against self-incrimination based on the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
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