take after
verb
took after; taken after; taking after; takes after
: 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
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
Lucy Maud MontgomeryExamples of take after in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The store will take after Boden’s aesthetic of bright colors and unexpected print combinations.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 12 Aug. 2025
Gray Super-LumiNova, taking after the colors of Aviazione Navale aircraft, enhances legibility in low-light conditions, while the small seconds counter’s design resembles a radar display, with an engraving of the historical Aviazione Navale aircraft’s anchor.
—Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Brooke took after her dad athletically and eventually followed him into the spotlight.
—Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 24 July 2025
The president and his administration have pushed to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, emphasizing the need for the Palestinian militant group to release the remaining hostages taken after the Oct. 7 attack in which Hamas killed some 1,200 Israelis and took about 250 others hostage.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for take after
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.
Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 12 Aug. 2025
Gray Super-LumiNova, taking after the colors of Aviazione Navale aircraft, enhances legibility in low-light conditions, while the small seconds counter’s design resembles a radar display, with an engraving of the historical Aviazione Navale aircraft’s anchor.
—Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Brooke took after her dad athletically and eventually followed him into the spotlight.
—Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 24 July 2025
The president and his administration have pushed to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, emphasizing the need for the Palestinian militant group to release the remaining hostages taken after the Oct. 7 attack in which Hamas killed some 1,200 Israelis and took about 250 others hostage.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for take after
Cite this Entry
“Take after.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20after. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share