take to
verb
took to; taken to; taking to; takes to
1
: to go to or into (a place)
take to the woods/hills
Thousands of people took to the streets in protest. [=went out into the streets to protest]
He took to the airwaves [=he spoke on the radio] with his message.
2
: to begin doing (something) as a habit or regular practice
take to drink
—usually used with a following present participletake to drinking/smoking
He's recently taken to staying up late on weekends.
A few of her classmates took to calling her Pipi, after Pippi Longstocking …—
Calvin Tomkins
Calvin TomkinsRecently, he'd taken to wearing tuxedos and suits and had gotten a new car, she said.—Laura Italiano and Tamar Lapin
Laura Italiano and Tamar Lapin3
: to adapt oneself to
They haven't taken well to the new schedule.
4
: to start to have a liking for
I took to her immediately.
He tried skiing and took to it quickly. [=he quickly learned how to ski and liked doing it]
Note: To take to something like a duck (takes) to water is to begin to do it, use it, etc., in a very quick, easy, and natural way.
She took to horseback riding like a duck to water.
Deanna takes to student life like a duck takes to water, doing all the things that we all did …—Joe Anderton
see also take kindly to
Joe AndertonExamples of take to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump has also alleged that California unsuccessfully rigged its gubernatorial primary against Republican candidate Steve Hilton and raised suspicions about the time California takes to count mail-in ballots and the high proportion of mail-in ballots from Democrats.
—Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
Some fans joke in the comments that every possible measure should be taken to help end the franchise’s 53-year championship drought, while others credit the rituals for helping shift the Knicks’ luck during the Finals run.
—ABC News, 12 June 2026
The teen was struck in the left hand and taken to University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 12 June 2026
Additionally, a man was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, Gonzalez said.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for take to
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Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
Some fans joke in the comments that every possible measure should be taken to help end the franchise’s 53-year championship drought, while others credit the rituals for helping shift the Knicks’ luck during the Finals run.
—ABC News, 12 June 2026
The teen was struck in the left hand and taken to University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 12 June 2026
Additionally, a man was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, Gonzalez said.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for take to
Cite this Entry
“Take to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20to. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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