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
At Bethpage, Europe versus the USA should take on the vibe of an old-school Yankees-Red Sox series in the Bronx.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
As the summer crowds fade and cooler air sweeps in at America's national parks, the trails feel more inviting and the landscapes take on a fresh beauty.
—Dave Parfitt, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
Buffalo Trace rye whiskey sweetened with root beer syrup gains depth and a touch of medicinal spice from star anise, making for a playful soda fountain take on the classic.
—Nathanael Gassett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
In Venice, François Ozon debuted a take on Albert Camus’ The Stranger, the notoriously philosophical text about a French Algerian settler and the myth of Sisyphus.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take on
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Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
As the summer crowds fade and cooler air sweeps in at America's national parks, the trails feel more inviting and the landscapes take on a fresh beauty.
—Dave Parfitt, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
Buffalo Trace rye whiskey sweetened with root beer syrup gains depth and a touch of medicinal spice from star anise, making for a playful soda fountain take on the classic.
—Nathanael Gassett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
In Venice, François Ozon debuted a take on Albert Camus’ The Stranger, the notoriously philosophical text about a French Algerian settler and the myth of Sisyphus.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 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 Sep. 2025.
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