transitive verb
1
: to get into one's hands or into one's possession, power, or control: such as
a
: to seize or capture physically
took them as prisoners
b
: to get possession of (fish or game) by killing or capturing
c(1)
: to move against (an opponent's piece, as in chess) and remove from play
(2)
: to win in a card game
able to take 12 tricks
d
: to acquire by eminent domain
3a
: to catch or attack through the effect of a sudden force or influence
taken with a fit of laughing taken ill
b
: to catch or come upon in a particular situation or action
was taken unawares
c
: to gain the approval or liking of : captivate, delight
was quite taken with her at their first meeting
4a
: to receive into one's body (as by swallowing, drinking, or inhaling)
take a pill
b
: to put oneself into (sun, air, water, etc.) for pleasure or physical benefit
c
: to partake of : eat
takes dinner about seven
5a
: to bring or receive into a relation or connection
takes just four students a year it's time he took a wife
b
: to copulate with
6
: to transfer into one's own keeping:
b
: to obtain or secure for use (as by lease, subscription, or purchase)
take a cottage for the summer I'll take the red one took an ad in the paper
7a
: assume
gods often took the likeness of a human being when the college took its present form
b(1)
: to enter into or undertake the duties of
take a job take office
(2)
: to move onto or into : move into position on
the home team took the field take the witness stand
c(1)
: to bind oneself by
take the oath of office
(2)
: to make (a decision) especially with finality or authority
d
: to impose upon oneself
take the trouble to do good work take pains to make her feel welcome
e(1)
: to adopt as one's own
take a stand on the issue take an interest
(2)
: to align or ally oneself with
mother took his side
f
: to assume as if rightfully one's own or as if granted
take the credit
g
: to accept the burden or consequences of
took the blame
h
: to have or assume as a proper part of or accompaniment to itself
transitive verbs take an object
8a
: to secure by winning in competition
took first place
10
: to adopt, choose, or avail oneself of for use: such as
a
: to have recourse to as an instrument for doing something
take a scythe to the weeds
b
: to use as a means of transportation or progression
take the bus
c
: to have recourse to for safety or refuge
take shelter
d
: to go along, into, or through
took a different route
e(1)
: to proceed to occupy
take a seat in the rear
(2)
: to use up (space, time, etc.)
takes a long time to dry
(3)
: need, require
takes a size nine shoe it takes two to start a fight
11a
: to obtain by deriving from a source : draw
takes its title from the name of the hero
b(1)
: to obtain as the result of a special procedure : ascertain
take the temperature take a census
(2)
: to get in or as if in writing
take notes take an inventory
(3)
: to get by drawing or painting or by photography
take a snapshot
(4)
: to get by transference from one surface to another
take a proof take fingerprints
12
: to receive or accept whether willingly or reluctantly
take a bribe will you take this call take a bet
: such as
a(1)
: to submit to : endure
take a cut in pay
(2)
: withstand
it will take a lot of punishment
(3)
: suffer
took a direct hit
b(1)
: to accept as true : believe
I'll take your word for it
(3)
: to accept or regard with the mind in a specified way
took the news hard you take yourself too seriously
c
: to indulge in and enjoy
was taking his ease on the porch
d
: to receive or accept as a return (as in payment, compensation, or reparation)
we don't take credit cards
e
: to accept in a usually professional relationship
—often used with on agreed to take him on as a client
f
: to refrain from hitting at (a pitched ball)
take a strike
13a(1)
: to let in : admit
the boat was taking water fast
(2)
: accommodate
the suitcase wouldn't take another thing
b
: to be affected injuriously by (something, such as a disease) : contract
take cold
also
: to be seized by
take a fit take fright
c
: to absorb or become impregnated with (something, such as dye)
also
: to be effectively treated by
a surface that takes a fine polish
d
: feel, experience
take pleasure take an instant dislike to someone take offense
15a
: to lead, carry, or cause to go along to another place
this bus will take you into town took an umbrella with her
b
: to cause to move to a specified state, condition, or sphere of activity
took the company public took his team to the finals
c
: to invite and accompany (someone)
She took me to the movies. He took her on a date. They took the kids to the movies.
— often + out He took her out to dinner.
d
: to stop prescribing a specified regimen to
—used with off took him off the medication
16a
: remove
take eggs from a nest
b(1)
: to put an end to (life)
(2)
: to remove by death
was taken in his prime
d
: exact
the weather took its toll
17a
: to undertake and make, do, or perform
take a walk take aim take legal action take a test take a look
b
: to participate in
take a meeting
18a
: to deal with
take first things first
b
: to consider or view in a particular relation
taken together, the details were significant
especially
: to consider as an example
take style, for instance
c(1)
: to apply oneself to the study of
take music lessons take French
(2)
: to study for especially successfully
taking a degree in engineering took holy orders
19
: to obtain money from especially fraudulently
took me for all I had
20
: to pass or attempt to pass through, along, or over
took the curve too fast take the stairs two at a time
intransitive verb
1
: to obtain possession: such as
b
: to receive property under law as one's own
3
: to establish a take especially by uniting or growing
90 percent of the grafts take
4a
: to betake oneself : set out : go
take after a purse snatcher
b
chiefly dialectal
—used as an intensifier or redundantly with a following verb took and swung at the ball
5a
: to take effect : act, operate
hoped the lesson he taught would take
b
: to show the natural or intended effect
dry fuel takes readily
8
: to be seized or attacked in a specified way : become
took sick
—
see also take a back seat, take a bath, take account of, take advantage of, take after, take a hike, take aim at, take apart, take a powder, take care, take care of, take charge, take effect, take exception, take five, take for, take for granted, take form, take heart, take hold, take in vain, take issue, take it on the chin, take kindly to, take no prisoners, take-no-prisoners, take notice, take one's time, take part, take place, take root, take shape, take ship, take the cake, take the count, take the floor, take the mickey (out of someone), take the plunge, take to, take to court, take to task, take to the cleaners, take turns
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Time Traveler for take
The first known use of take was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century