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
According to Smith, restoring and investing in yourself is the most important action leaders can take to maintain emotional equilibrium.
—Anne Sugar, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Both were taken to hospitals with life-threatening injuries, and the woman died at the facility.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 13 Aug. 2025
He was taken to a hospital and was pronounced deceased shortly after arriving.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
The driver of the Honda was taken to UC Medical Center.
—David Ferrara, The Enquirer, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take to
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Anne Sugar, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Both were taken to hospitals with life-threatening injuries, and the woman died at the facility.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 13 Aug. 2025
He was taken to a hospital and was pronounced deceased shortly after arriving.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
The driver of the Honda was taken to UC Medical Center.
—David Ferrara, The Enquirer, 13 Aug. 2025
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 20 Aug. 2025.
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