take on
verb
took on; taken on; taking on; takes on
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
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
W. T. LeViness
b
: to have as a mathematical domain or range
what values does the function take on
: 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
Daniel DefoeExamples 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
Purdy could return as early as this coming weekend when the 49ers take on the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The Legislature needs to stop posturing and take on today’s major impediment to achievement, the teachers unions.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
At some point, protons and neutrons cease to be meaningful entities, as the Universe takes on the conditions of a quark-gluon plasma.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 16 Sep. 2025
The new establishment, which will be at the corner of Seventh Avenue and 47th Street, is meant to be a contemporary take on the gathering spot from the beloved NBC sitcom, which was famously set in New York.
—Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take on
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Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The Legislature needs to stop posturing and take on today’s major impediment to achievement, the teachers unions.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
At some point, protons and neutrons cease to be meaningful entities, as the Universe takes on the conditions of a quark-gluon plasma.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 16 Sep. 2025
The new establishment, which will be at the corner of Seventh Avenue and 47th Street, is meant to be a contemporary take on the gathering spot from the beloved NBC sitcom, which was famously set in New York.
—Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take on
Cite this Entry
“Take on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20on. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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