take in

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

• trick
• deceive
• fool
• have on

Examples of take in in a Sentence

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

This seven-story building in the heart of downtown contains several museums, a living reef aquarium, and Six and Sky Rooftop Grille, where guests can take in splendid views of the Roanoke Valley while dining on seafood and steak. —Julekha Dash, Travel + Leisure, 6 June 2026

The Sinners composer had a much easier time describing the feeling of sitting in the front row on the Malibu Pier to take in the parade of looks. —Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2026

Some people stopped to take in the canopy shade structures and brand new indoor pavilion. —Kendrick Calfee june 6, Kansas City Star, 6 June 2026

Backrooms, the surreal horror thriller from YouTube director Kane Parsons, shocked Hollywood in its opening weekend by overperforming at the box office on its way to an $81 million domestic take in its opening frame. —Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 5 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1518, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for take in

• awaken
• betaken
• forsaken
• mistaken
• partaken
• retaken
• unshaken
• godforsaken
• overtaken
• reawaken
• undertaken
• shaken

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