take after
verb
took after; taken after; taking after; takes after
: to resemble (someone) in features, build, character, or disposition
a daughter who takes after her mother
"That's Tulliver's son," said the publican to a grocer standing on the adjacent door-step. "Ah!" said the grocer, "I thought I knew his features. He takes after his mother's family."—
George Eliot
George Eliot"His father was lazy but his mother hasn't a lazy bone in her body, and Peter takes after her."—Lucy Maud Montgomery
Lucy Maud MontgomeryExamples of take after in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Yustyna has Pavlo’s light blue eyes and seems to have taken after him in her calmness.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
Bobby took after his mother, an amateur actress, in playing a guitar and performing.
—Bob Thomas The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026
Lilibet thus appears to be taking after her grandmother, who was a frequent visitor to the National Ballet in London and who famously took secret dance lessons after marrying into the British royal family.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 16 Feb. 2026
Bobby took after his mother, an amateur actress, in playing a guitar and performing.
—Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for take after
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
Bobby took after his mother, an amateur actress, in playing a guitar and performing.
—Bob Thomas The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026
Lilibet thus appears to be taking after her grandmother, who was a frequent visitor to the National Ballet in London and who famously took secret dance lessons after marrying into the British royal family.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 16 Feb. 2026
Bobby took after his mother, an amateur actress, in playing a guitar and performing.
—Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for take after
Cite this Entry
“Take after.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20after. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
