take-in

1 of 2

noun

ˈtā-ˌkin 

: an act of taking in especially by deceiving

take in

2 of 2

verb

took in; taken in; taking in; takes in

transitive verb

1

a

: to receive as a guest or lodger

b

: to give shelter to

c

: to take to a police station as a prisoner

2

: to draw into a smaller compass

take in the slack of a line

:

a

: to make (a garment) smaller by enlarging seams or tucks

b

: furl

3

: to receive as payment or proceeds

4

: to receive (work) into one's house to be done for pay

take in washing

5

: to encompass within its limits

6

a

: to include in an itinerary

b

: attend

take in a movie

7

: to receive into the mind : perceive

took in the view

8

: deceive, dupe

Synonyms of take-in

Verb

• trick
• deceive
• fool
• have on

Examples of take-in in a Sentence

Verb

a fellow passenger on the cruise completely took me in when he claimed to be the owner of a major software company

this report takes in all the latest information on the subject

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Being taken in, Crimp keeps reminding us, is not the same as being saved. — Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026

The Shedd Aquarium took in 10 of the 30 belugas and four dolphins stranded at Marineland, an Ontario park that closed years ago and could no longer care for them. — Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026

Kansas City-area residents looking for a Halloween thrill can take in some haunted history at some of Independence’s most historic places this fall season. — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026

Danbi steals money from the church and ends up imprisoned, separated from her daughter (whom righteous John takes in), and responsible for her partner’s suicide. — Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1772, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1518, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for take-in

• aneurin
• crystallin
• eosin
• mandolin
• porphyrin
• superfine
• underpin
• vietminh
• violin
• akin
• auxin
• buckskin

Kids Definition

take in

verb

1

a

: to reduce the length of

take in a slack line

b

: to make smaller by enlarging seams or tucks

take in a coat

2

a

: to receive as a guest or resident

b

: to give shelter to

3

: to receive and do at home for pay

take in washing

4

: to include within fixed limits

the camp took in several acres

5

: attend sense 4

take in a movie

6

: to observe and think about so as to understand

paused to take the situation in

7

: to deceive so as to take advantage of

taken in by a hard luck story