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

This image taken on August 25, 2026 shows an Icelandic flag displayed along a street in central Reykjavik, Iceland, ahead of the country's upcoming referendum. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026

Though freshman Jackson Cantwell likely could have stepped in immediately at left tackle, the junior Okunlola has the game experience (albeit mostly at guard) that should serve him well in taking on the opponent’s best edge rusher. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026

Former City Manager Brian Platt has taken on a leadership role with one of the firms behind the development. — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026

At the same time, the alliance took on new commitments, offering Moscow’s tiny, vulnerable neighbors promises of protection with little thought of what their defense would require. — Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 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