takeover

1 of 2

noun

take·​over ˈtāk-ˌō-vər 

: the action or an act of taking over

take over

2 of 2

verb

took over; taken over; taking over; takes over

transitive verb

: to assume control or possession of or responsibility for

military leaders took over the government

intransitive verb

1

: to assume control or possession

2

: to become dominant

Synonyms of takeover

Noun

• seizure
• appropriation
• annexation
• usurpation
• invasion

Verb

• substitute
• stand in
• fill in

Examples of takeover in a Sentence

Noun

The government experienced a military takeover in 2002.

the new government's high-handed takeover of private industries

Verb

I'll take over for her until she gets back from her morning break.

took over the responsibility of caring for the animals

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Since January 2025, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center has received more than 5,100 complaints reporting account takeover fraud. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026

Wild video of that car takeover shared by Wong on social media showed multiple cars doing tire-screeching donuts near a ring of fire on the street, with a passenger in one car holding a large Palestinian flag out its window before cops arrived. — Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 19 Sep. 2026

Verb

At the time, the move surprised many investors, as it was widely assumed Abel would not take over until after Buffett's death. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026

His son Howard, a board member since 1993, will take over the role as chairman. — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1910, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1618, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing takeover

• anti-takeover
• hostile takeover
• takeover bid

Rhymes for takeover

• carryover
• changeover
• crossover
• cutover
• flashover
• hangover
• holdover
• layover
• leftover
• makeover
• moreover
• passover

Kids Definition

take over

verb

(ˈ)tā-ˈkō-vər

: to get control or possession of or responsibility for something

takeover

ˈtā-ˌkō-vər

noun

Legal Definition

takeover

noun

take·​over ˈtāk-ˌō-vər 

: the acquisition of control or possession (as of a corporation)

a hostile takeover