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
The home bar took on a mid-century modern style, with forest green walls and coordinating barstools.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
The scandal has subsequently taken on a life of its own thanks to a video by YouTuber Nick Shirley, which went viral.
—Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2026
Chief Budget Officer David Clodfelter, who helped Levine Cava manage a massive influx of federal COVID aid and then propose austerity measures when the money ran out, will take on an advisory role in the mayor’s administration.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
Exhausted students are more likely to take on excessive amounts of debt, graduate later than expected, and leave the state altogether in search of financial security.
—Liam McCusker, Hartford Courant, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for take on
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Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
The scandal has subsequently taken on a life of its own thanks to a video by YouTuber Nick Shirley, which went viral.
—Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2026
Chief Budget Officer David Clodfelter, who helped Levine Cava manage a massive influx of federal COVID aid and then propose austerity measures when the money ran out, will take on an advisory role in the mayor’s administration.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
Exhausted students are more likely to take on excessive amounts of debt, graduate later than expected, and leave the state altogether in search of financial security.
—Liam McCusker, Hartford Courant, 7 Jan. 2026
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 8 Jan. 2026.
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