take·out
ˈtāk-ˌau̇t 
1
a
: prepared food packaged to be consumed away from its place of sale
b
: an establishment selling takeout
2
: the action or an act of taking out
3
a
: something taken out or prepared to be taken out
b(1)
: an article (as in a newspaper) printed on consecutive pages so as to be conveniently removed
(2)
: an intensive study or report
: of, relating to, selling, or being food not to be consumed on the premises
take-out counter
a take-out supper
took out; taken out; taking out; takes out
1
2
a
: to obtain from the proper authority
take out a charter
take out a second mortgage
b
: to arrange for (insurance)
3
: to take as an equivalent in another form
took the debt out in trade
4
: to overcall (a bridge partner) in a different suit
: to start on a course : set out
Synonyms
Examples of takeout in a Sentence
Noun
We ordered some Chinese takeout.
She works in a Chinese takeout.
Verb
he took out his frustrations by splitting a cord of firewood
she'd like to take the new boy out to the movies sometime
Recent Examples on the Web
Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2023
In the three-story building – across from a hotel, a Trader Joe’s market, and various takeout and sit-down restaurants – battles are fought in Overwatch and Valorant, two first-person shooter games; and Rocket League, a vehicular soccer game.
—Ira Porter, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Sep. 2023
After a pandemic-era run in a tiny takeout spot on the Lower East Side, the chef, Justin Lee, relocated this summer to across the George Washington Bridge.
—Melissa Clark, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023
Rather than being served on a tray, food is packaged in clear containers with deli paper, emulating restaurant takeout.
—Amanda Yeager, Baltimore Sun, 6 Sep. 2023
Citing that 20% of customers prefer to order takeout via phone but that up to 50% of restaurant calls go unanswered, DoorDash announced a new feature that will couple the use of A.I. with live agents to ensure all customer calls are promptly answered.
—Bysage Lazzaro, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2023
Festival offers drive-thru service, along with takeout food and on-site dining.
—Mary Colurso | McOlurso@al.com, al, 13 Sep. 2023
But Hudson took pity on us and agreed to gather a takeout feast of the menu’s soul food dishes that were already prepared or easy to warm.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2023
Plus, Lorelai’s signature trinkets litter the living room, too—remember when Rory’s instructed to look for takeout money under the dancing rabbi figurine?
—Abby Wilson, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2023
Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2023
Police said the take-out meals encouraged people to loiter around the center, including people banned from the center for causing trouble.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2023
So take a clamshell that is used for your take-out chicken rotisserie.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2023
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection released draft rules for regulating nine types of PFAS chemicals in food packaging, such as picnic plates, fast food wrappers, and take-out containers.
—Breccan F. Thies, Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 2023
Some discuss making a pivot to take-out, and selling groceries to try and hang on.
—Kturnqui, oregonlive, 10 Aug. 2023
Categorize Paper Mail, bills, notes from school, take-out menus—paper piles up quickly.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2023
Great Cranberry also has a small museum, a take-out café, gift shop, and gorgeous views.
—Pamela Wright, BostonGlobe.com, 27 July 2023
And remember to include the additional cost of take-out food while your kitchen is out of commission.
—Jennifer Nelson, Popular Mechanics, 24 July 2023
Pranshu Verma, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2023
And after taking out several important Russian air-defense systems on Crimea, Ukrainian missiles struck a Russian submarine and a large landing ship at the fleet’s largest dry dock on the occupied peninsula.
—Marc Santora Laetitia Vancon, New York Times, 26 Sep. 2023
And in The Warriors there was a kid that took out a spray can.
—Matt Thompson, Spin, 26 Sep. 2023
At a private college, the 30-year-old from Montecito Heights faced the prospect of taking out tens of thousands of dollars in student loans.
—Debbie Truong, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2023
One of the most prominent victims of the GamerGate harassment campaign took out a restraining order against their ex-partner, whose false accusations lent fire to the movement.
—WIRED, 22 Sep. 2023
Both the new and old members work together to take out Stonebanks’s men, while Ross faces Stonebanks man-to-man in a sweaty battle of Republicans in which Ross kills his former partner and escapes with the team.
—Richard Newby, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2023
Cost As important as this piece of kit is, there’s no reason to take out a second mortgage to afford one.
—Jim Cobb, Field & Stream, 21 Sep. 2023
Moreover, any changes to a city's landscape – like taking out a highway -- would likely lead to new regional debates about who benefits from development.
—Mark Nichols, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2023
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Noun
Oxtail tagliatelle, on the other hand, is a mash-up between the beef lo mein served at Lucky Danger, Ma’s American Chinese takeout, and Taiwanese beef noodle soup, one of his childhood memories.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2023
In the three-story building – across from a hotel, a Trader Joe’s market, and various takeout and sit-down restaurants – battles are fought in Overwatch and Valorant, two first-person shooter games; and Rocket League, a vehicular soccer game.
—Ira Porter, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Sep. 2023
After a pandemic-era run in a tiny takeout spot on the Lower East Side, the chef, Justin Lee, relocated this summer to across the George Washington Bridge.
—Melissa Clark, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023
Rather than being served on a tray, food is packaged in clear containers with deli paper, emulating restaurant takeout.
—Amanda Yeager, Baltimore Sun, 6 Sep. 2023
Citing that 20% of customers prefer to order takeout via phone but that up to 50% of restaurant calls go unanswered, DoorDash announced a new feature that will couple the use of A.I. with live agents to ensure all customer calls are promptly answered.
—Bysage Lazzaro, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2023
Festival offers drive-thru service, along with takeout food and on-site dining.
—Mary Colurso | McOlurso@al.com, al, 13 Sep. 2023
But Hudson took pity on us and agreed to gather a takeout feast of the menu’s soul food dishes that were already prepared or easy to warm.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2023
Plus, Lorelai’s signature trinkets litter the living room, too—remember when Rory’s instructed to look for takeout money under the dancing rabbi figurine?
—Abby Wilson, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2023
Adjective
Start by putting trash in the garbage can and recyclables like take-out containers, water bottles, and soda cans in the recycling bin.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2023
Police said the take-out meals encouraged people to loiter around the center, including people banned from the center for causing trouble.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2023
So take a clamshell that is used for your take-out chicken rotisserie.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2023
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection released draft rules for regulating nine types of PFAS chemicals in food packaging, such as picnic plates, fast food wrappers, and take-out containers.
—Breccan F. Thies, Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 2023
Some discuss making a pivot to take-out, and selling groceries to try and hang on.
—Kturnqui, oregonlive, 10 Aug. 2023
Categorize Paper Mail, bills, notes from school, take-out menus—paper piles up quickly.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2023
Great Cranberry also has a small museum, a take-out café, gift shop, and gorgeous views.
—Pamela Wright, BostonGlobe.com, 27 July 2023
And remember to include the additional cost of take-out food while your kitchen is out of commission.
—Jennifer Nelson, Popular Mechanics, 24 July 2023
Verb
Then, one of Manesar’s associates takes out a phone and begins to film.
—Pranshu Verma, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2023
And after taking out several important Russian air-defense systems on Crimea, Ukrainian missiles struck a Russian submarine and a large landing ship at the fleet’s largest dry dock on the occupied peninsula.
—Marc Santora Laetitia Vancon, New York Times, 26 Sep. 2023
And in The Warriors there was a kid that took out a spray can.
—Matt Thompson, Spin, 26 Sep. 2023
At a private college, the 30-year-old from Montecito Heights faced the prospect of taking out tens of thousands of dollars in student loans.
—Debbie Truong, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2023
One of the most prominent victims of the GamerGate harassment campaign took out a restraining order against their ex-partner, whose false accusations lent fire to the movement.
—WIRED, 22 Sep. 2023
Both the new and old members work together to take out Stonebanks’s men, while Ross faces Stonebanks man-to-man in a sweaty battle of Republicans in which Ross kills his former partner and escapes with the team.
—Richard Newby, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2023
Cost As important as this piece of kit is, there’s no reason to take out a second mortgage to afford one.
—Jim Cobb, Field & Stream, 21 Sep. 2023
Moreover, any changes to a city's landscape – like taking out a highway -- would likely lead to new regional debates about who benefits from development.
—Mark Nichols, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'takeout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1914, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Adjective
1941, in the meaning defined above
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)
Time Traveler
The first known use of takeout was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing takeout
Dictionary Entries Near takeout
Cite this Entry
“Takeout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/takeout. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
takeout
1 of 2 noun
take·out
ˈtā-ˌkau̇t
1
: the action or an act of taking out
2
: something taken out or made to be taken out
3
: prepared food packaged to be eaten away from its place of sale
take out
2 of 2 verb(ˈ)tā-ˈkau̇t
1
a
: to take away : deduct
2
: to find release for : vent
took out their anger on me
3
: to conduct or escort into the open or to a public entertainment
4
: to take as payment in another form
took the debt out in goods
5
: to obtain from the proper authority
take out a charter
6
: to start on a course : set out
More from Merriam-Webster on takeout
Nglish: Translation of takeout for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of takeout for Arabic Speakers
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