take to
verb
took to; taken to; taking to; takes to
1
: to go to or into (a place)
take to the woods/hills
Thousands of people took to the streets in protest. [=went out into the streets to protest]
He took to the airwaves [=he spoke on the radio] with his message.
2
: to begin doing (something) as a habit or regular practice
take to drink
—usually used with a following present participletake to drinking/smoking
He's recently taken to staying up late on weekends.
A few of her classmates took to calling her Pipi, after Pippi Longstocking …—
Calvin Tomkins
Calvin TomkinsRecently, he'd taken to wearing tuxedos and suits and had gotten a new car, she said.—Laura Italiano and Tamar Lapin
Laura Italiano and Tamar Lapin3
: to adapt oneself to
They haven't taken well to the new schedule.
4
: to start to have a liking for
I took to her immediately.
He tried skiing and took to it quickly. [=he quickly learned how to ski and liked doing it]
Note: To take to something like a duck (takes) to water is to begin to do it, use it, etc., in a very quick, easy, and natural way.
She took to horseback riding like a duck to water.
Deanna takes to student life like a duck takes to water, doing all the things that we all did …—Joe Anderton
see also take kindly to
Joe AndertonExamples of take to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There are many paths individuals can take to contribute to this vital industry.
—Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Deputies began life-saving measures and she was taken to a nearby hospital in an ambulance.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
While Khamenei's supporters took to the streets in big crowds mourning his death following the confirmation on March 1 of his death, other Iranians celebrated his death by dancing, singing and setting off fireworks in the country and abroad.
—Sarah Baniak, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026
Paktyawal began complaining of shortness of breath and chest pains while being held in a holding room at the Dallas ICE field office on Friday evening and was taken to the hospital to receive breathing treatment, the agency said.
—Aarón Torres, Dallas Morning News, 15 Mar. 2026
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Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Deputies began life-saving measures and she was taken to a nearby hospital in an ambulance.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
While Khamenei's supporters took to the streets in big crowds mourning his death following the confirmation on March 1 of his death, other Iranians celebrated his death by dancing, singing and setting off fireworks in the country and abroad.
—Sarah Baniak, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026
Paktyawal began complaining of shortness of breath and chest pains while being held in a holding room at the Dallas ICE field office on Friday evening and was taken to the hospital to receive breathing treatment, the agency said.
—Aarón Torres, Dallas Morning News, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for take to
Cite this Entry
“Take to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20to. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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