take root

idiomatic phrase

1

of a plant : to grow and develop roots : to become rooted

… damage to the ecosystem makes it easier for nonnative plants … to take root and crowd out native vegetation.

—Mary K. Miller

2

: to become fixed or established

… providing the steadiness and resolve needed to ensure that civilizations can take root and flourish.

—Greg Grandin

A monstrous suspicion had begun to take root in his mind.

—P. G. Wodehouse

Examples of take root in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While Turks and Caicos offers ideal conditions, the practice has taken root in diverse waters around the globe. —Vanita Salisbury, AFAR Media, 6 Nov. 2025

Even South Africa—which Mahmood Mamdani, the author of one of the books Sanneh reviews, holds up as a rare example of post-colonial success—has its flaws, as Thabo Mbeki’s and Jacob Zuma’s willingness to let corruption take root shows. —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025

But visitors to New York shouldn’t miss a chance to pay homage to the fight for equality that in many ways took root in the city. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025

Careers shift, relationships evolve and whatever’s been built on shaky grounds tends to crumble in order for something strong and enduring to take root. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for take root

• absolute
• arrowroot
• attribute
• bitterroot
• constitute
• convolute
• destitute
• disrepute
• dissolute
• execute
• institute
• involute