take on

verb

took on; taken on; taking on; takes on

transitive verb

1

a

: to begin to perform or deal with : undertake

took on new responsibilities

b

: to contend with as an opponent

took on the neighborhood bully

2

: engage, hire

3

a

: to assume or acquire as or as if one's own

… the city's plaza takes on a carnival air.

—W. T. LeViness

b

: to have as a mathematical domain or range

what values does the function take on

intransitive verb

: to show one's feelings especially of grief or anger in a demonstrative way

… she cried, and took on like a distracted body …

—Daniel Defoe

Synonyms of take on

• meet
• face
• encounter

Examples of take on in a Sentence

will take on his chief opponent in the next political debate

decided to take her on as store manager

Recent Examples on the Web

These opportunities allow employees to expand their skills, take on greater responsibility and gain experience across increasingly complex projects. — Matthew Darienzo, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026

That has included efforts to restrict the number of medical residency slots and opposition to letting nurse practitioners and other providers take on work that doctors do. — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 14 Sep. 2026

The bridal capsule sits in corner, and another, the label’s Heritage collection, which is their take on permanent wardrobing. — Madeline Fass, Vogue, 14 Sep. 2026

Cape Fear star Malia Pyles never meant to start taking on roles that were quite so different from herself. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for take on

• aileron
• antiphon
• autobahn
• carillon
• castellan
• celadon
• cephalon
• cynodon
• denouement
• deuteron
• echelon
• epsilon

Kids Definition

take on

verb

1

: to struggle with as an opponent

2

: employ entry 1 sense 2

took on more workers

3

: to acquire (as an appearance or quality) as one's own

take on weight

4

: to make an unusual show of one's feelings especially of grief or anger

don't take on so