take-in

1 of 2

noun

ˈtā-ˌkin 

: an act of taking in especially by deceiving

take in

2 of 2

verb

took in; taken in; taking in; takes in

transitive verb

1

a

: to receive as a guest or lodger

b

: to give shelter to

c

: to take to a police station as a prisoner

2

: to draw into a smaller compass

take in the slack of a line

:

a

: to make (a garment) smaller by enlarging seams or tucks

b

: furl

3

: to receive as payment or proceeds

4

: to receive (work) into one's house to be done for pay

take in washing

5

: to encompass within its limits

6

a

: to include in an itinerary

b

: attend

take in a movie

7

: to receive into the mind : perceive

took in the view

8

: deceive, dupe

Synonyms of take-in

Verb

• trick
• deceive
• fool
• have on

Examples of take-in in a Sentence

Verb

a fellow passenger on the cruise completely took me in when he claimed to be the owner of a major software company

this report takes in all the latest information on the subject

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Paige, Brie Bella and Nikki Bella were back in the ring and taking in the applause of the crowd. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Round out your visit with a ride aboard the Maid of the Mist, descend into the gorge at Cave of the Winds, or simply pause to take in the roar and mist of one of North America’s most spectacular natural wonders. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026

Kate Middleton, 44, typically keeps a low profile over the summer months but made an exception to take in the action at the 11-day sporting extravaganza alongside Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. — Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 2 Aug. 2026

Bass raised more than $510,000 in June, while Raman took in just over $170,000. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1772, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1518, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for take-in

• aneurin
• crystallin
• eosin
• mandolin
• porphyrin
• superfine
• underpin
• vietminh
• violin
• akin
• auxin
• buckskin

Kids Definition

take in

verb

1

a

: to reduce the length of

take in a slack line

b

: to make smaller by enlarging seams or tucks

take in a coat

2

a

: to receive as a guest or resident

b

: to give shelter to

3

: to receive and do at home for pay

take in washing

4

: to include within fixed limits

the camp took in several acres

5

: attend sense 4

take in a movie

6

: to observe and think about so as to understand

paused to take the situation in

7

: to deceive so as to take advantage of

taken in by a hard luck story