take on
verb
took on; taken on; taking on; takes on
1
a
: to begin to perform or deal with : undertake
took on new responsibilities
b
: to contend with as an opponent
took on the neighborhood bully
3
a
: to assume or acquire as or as if one's own
… the city's plaza takes on a carnival air.—
W. T. LeViness
W. T. LeViness
b
: to have as a mathematical domain or range
what values does the function take on
: to show one's feelings especially of grief or anger in a demonstrative way
… she cried, and took on like a distracted body …—Daniel Defoe
Daniel DefoeExamples of take on in a Sentence
will take on his chief opponent in the next political debate
decided to take her on as store manager
Recent Examples on the Web
The subsequent unrest has taken on a variety of forms, including a continued and drastic decline in trust of the traditional news media and attacks on universities from both the left and the right.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2025
Castellow’s preferred method is a take on cold water thawing and involves a large cooler, lots of ice and a salt water brine with sugar, spices, herbs and lemon mixed in.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 25 Nov. 2025
Which is, naturally, the human element at play in this whimsical, self-aware take on the ol’ love-triangle chestnut.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 25 Nov. 2025
In a playful take on the sentiment, Stewart sports head-to-toe American Eagle denim while posing amid a set wrapped entirely in denim.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take on
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Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2025
Castellow’s preferred method is a take on cold water thawing and involves a large cooler, lots of ice and a salt water brine with sugar, spices, herbs and lemon mixed in.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 25 Nov. 2025
Which is, naturally, the human element at play in this whimsical, self-aware take on the ol’ love-triangle chestnut.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 25 Nov. 2025
In a playful take on the sentiment, Stewart sports head-to-toe American Eagle denim while posing amid a set wrapped entirely in denim.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take on
Cite this Entry
“Take on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20on. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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