take after

verb

took after; taken after; taking after; takes after

transitive verb

: to resemble (someone) in features, build, character, or disposition
a daughter who takes after her mother
"That's Tulliver's son," said the publican to a grocer standing on the adjacent door-step. "Ah!" said the grocer, "I thought I knew his features. He takes after his mother's family."George Eliot
"His father was lazy but his mother hasn't a lazy bone in her body, and Peter takes after her."Lucy Maud Montgomery

Examples of take after in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the family, she was thought to take after their brilliant, charismatic father. Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026 That extraordinary measure was taken after air traffic controllers were working without pay for over a month, leading to strain on the air traffic system. Zach Wichter, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026 Jordan Chiles’ bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics was taken after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled a judging inquiry came too late. Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026 Take a look through these mesmerizing drone photos taken after the winter storm showcasing the power of nature. Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for take after

Word History

First Known Use

1627, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of take after was in 1627

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Cite this Entry

“Take after.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20after. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

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