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
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Authorities have not said whether actions taken after the shooting, including efforts to provide medical assistance, will be reviewed as part of the federal investigation. Claudia Lauer, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026 Ricotta gnocchi takes after the Parisian model, finished in a pan until each piece has a deep-brown oval sear, arriving simply sauced in lemon and fragrant black pepper under a blanket of Parmesan. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026 The mom of two also opened up to host Jennifer Hudson about the ways Blue Ivy takes after her and how her future is bright. Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026 The United States certainly has plenty of leverage to press Caracas to free the handful of Americans that remain in its custody — such as 28-year-old James Luckey-Lange, who was taken after entering the country in December. Editorial Board, Washington Post, 7 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 14 Jan. 2026.

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