takeout

1 of 3

noun

take·​out ˈtāk-ˌau̇t How to pronounce takeout (audio)
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

take-out

2 of 3

adjective

: of, relating to, selling, or being food not to be consumed on the premises
take-out counter
a take-out supper

take out

3 of 3

verb

took out; taken out; taking out; takes out

transitive verb

1
a(1)
(2)
b
: to find release for : vent
take out their resentments on one anotherJ. W. Aldridge
c(1)
(2)
(3)
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

intransitive verb

: to start on a course : set out
Phrases
take it out on
: to expend anger, vexation, or frustration in harassment of

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
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.
Noun
Valid for dine-in, takeout or delivery orders placed through the BW3 app or website. Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Sep. 2025 DoorDash announced its deal to buy the British online takeout platform in May. Ryan Browne, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
About 40% of its overall revenue stems from take-out and delivery, split 20% each between them. Gary Stern, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025 And all Monica Cannon Grant got for her mau-mauing of the flak catchers was a take-out order from Shake Shack of a triple bacon cheeseburger with bacon cheese fries and an Oreo Cookie Funnel Cake Shake. Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
The company highlighted that StormBreaker weapon’s small size enables the use of fewer aircraft to take out the same number of targets as larger weapons that require multiple jets. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025 The mortgage documents were taken out at two different credit unions within weeks of each other in 2021. Susan Tompor, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for takeout

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Takeout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/takeout. Accessed 25 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

takeout

1 of 2 noun
take·​out ˈtā-ˌkau̇t How to pronounce takeout (audio)
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

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