take the floor
idiomatic phrase
1
: to rise (as in a meeting or a legislative assembly) to begin speaking to a group
With Lott and Gramm staring at him as he took the floor during debate, McCain called the bill "seriously skewed," but said he would vote for it.—
Newsweek
NewsweekAt precisely 6:45 a.m. the rowdiness ceases as Sailor, a union safety expert, takes the floor for his weekly lecture.—Jack Friedman
Jack Friedman2
: to go out onto a dance floor to begin dancing
Several couples took the floor.
… the younger people took the floor, and all the elders sneaked back to their chairs …—Sinclair Lewis
Sinclair Lewis3
: to go out onto a basketball court to begin playing
Phillips hopes the scouts notice his quickness, his vision, … the way he changes the flow of a game as soon as he takes the floor.—John Gustafson
John GustafsonExamples of take the floor in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Utah’s roster showcases a blend of rookies and sophomores, including Ace Bailey, Walter Clayton Jr., Cody Williams, Isaiah Collier and Kyle Filipowski, making this one of the more high-profile teams taking the floor in Las Vegas.
—Garrett Chorpenning, New York Times, 12 July 2025
Read more June 2025 Game 1 of the NBA Finals
Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Haliburton and Nembhard all take the floor on the biggest stage in the NBA, and participate in some of Game 1’s biggest moments during a thrilling fourth quarter.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 8 June 2025
Another activist, India Miller, took the floor next.
—Heather Hunter, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 20 Mar. 2025
Listen to this article Klay Thompson doesn’t know quite what to expect when the Mavericks take the floor for their first home since the franchise-altering trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take the floor
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Garrett Chorpenning, New York Times, 12 July 2025
Read more June 2025 Game 1 of the NBA Finals
Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Haliburton and Nembhard all take the floor on the biggest stage in the NBA, and participate in some of Game 1’s biggest moments during a thrilling fourth quarter.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 8 June 2025
Another activist, India Miller, took the floor next.
—Heather Hunter, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 20 Mar. 2025
Listen to this article Klay Thompson doesn’t know quite what to expect when the Mavericks take the floor for their first home since the franchise-altering trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take the floor
Cite this Entry
“Take the floor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20the%20floor. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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