take 1 of 2

Definition of takenext
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as in to accommodate
to make or have room for I think we can take two more in this elevator

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to work
to produce a desired effect it will be a few hours before this medication takes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in to receive
to offer entrance (as to a place, school, or privilege) to the school takes only a small percentage of the thousands of applicants

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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take

2 of 2

noun

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as in reaction
action or behavior that is done in return to other action or behavior what's your take on the announcement that the senior vice president is taking an early retirement?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in yield
the total amount collected or obtained especially at one time who will win the poker tournament and collect the whole take?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in share
something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group because there were so many winners of the jackpot, each person's take will be smaller than expected

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in interpretation
a distinct treatment of something (as a story or a play) despite its contemporary setting, this take on King Lear isn't particularly novel or insightful

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word take different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of take are clutch, grab, grasp, seize, and snatch. While all these words mean "to get hold of by or as if by catching up with the hand," take is a general term applicable to any manner of getting something into one's possession or control.

take some salad from the bowl

In what contexts can clutch take the place of take?

In some situations, the words clutch and take are roughly equivalent. However, clutch suggests avidity or anxiety in seizing or grasping and may imply less success in holding.

clutching her purse

How are the words grab and snatch related as synonyms of take?

Grab implies more roughness or rudeness than snatch.

grabbed roughly by the arm

Where would grasp be a reasonable alternative to take?

While the synonyms grasp and take are close in meaning, grasp stresses a laying hold so as to have firmly in possession.

grasp the handle and pull

When is seize a more appropriate choice than take?

While in some cases nearly identical to take, seize implies a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of something tangible or an apprehending of something fleeting or elusive when intangible.

seized the suspect

How do snatch and seize relate to one another, in the sense of take?

Snatch suggests more suddenness or quickness but less force than seize.

snatched a doughnut and ran

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of take
Verb
Time to get out of the car and take a mind-clearing walk. Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026 More than that, that portion of their home was once the home of Joseph Bartlett, who is believed to have allowed numerous freedom seekers to take refuge there during the time of the Underground Railroad. Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
Three more Wuthering Heights adaptations Brontë’s 1847 novel has been ripe material for plenty of adaptations aside from Fennell’s feverish take. Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026 Skarsgård doesn’t mind doing multiple takes. Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for take
Recent Examples of Synonyms for take
Verb
  • The Gophers and Ducks were both ice cold in the first half, with the U holding an unsightly 22-13 lead.
    Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 18 Feb. 2026
  • This brought Falmouth’s deficit to as low as four points, and Hanover held a narrow 43-37 the end of the quarter.
    Zach McMahon, Boston Herald, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Bipartisan skepticism of corporate power comes and goes in America, but the latest wave has roots in the parallel streams flowing from the Great Financial Crisis, Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party.
    Ben Smith, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Kids will have a blast at the Seaport Museum next door, especially when exploring the mock-village section and tall-mast whaling ship.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Officials are also trying to make sure that the electronic logging devices drivers use are accurate, and that states are following all the regulations to ensure drivers are qualified to get commercial licenses.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Book recalls Epstein's threat to harm her brother At 16, Roberts Giuffre got a job as a locker room attendant at a nearby resort, Mar-a-Lago, where her father was a maintenance man.
    Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • In a city where skyscrapers reach for the clouds and streets hum with the rhythm of daily life, Hong Kong's open-air adventures offer a refreshing counterpoint, proving there's no need to choose between urban energy and natural tranquility.
    Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026
  • While conditions remain dangerous, experts advise reading the avalanche forecast, skiing with local expert guides and choosing shallower slopes to ski off-piste.
    Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The Czech Republic has since stopped buying Russian oil, but Hungary and Slovakia used the EU’s exemption to deepen their dependence.
    Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Everybody buys groceries, and everyone has felt the increase in costs over the last few years.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Over the past decade, member states of the European Union – of which the UK is not a member – have already doubled their defense expenditures, but more spending is needed, the defense chiefs argued.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Observers will need to wear solar eclipse glasses, and cameras, telescopes and binoculars must have solar filters placed in front of their lenses at all times.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The ongoing cost of TK is about $3 billion a year; the state has also put $1 billion toward implementing the new program, including building improvements to accommodate younger kids.
    CalMatters, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
  • This was partly out of deference to a president who thinks not of enemies but only of potential counterparties to be bargained with, bullied, swindled, or accommodated.
    Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Poland is already working with Ukraine on drone technology in joint military training programs and manufacturing projects.
    SAM McNEIL, Arkansas Online, 21 Feb. 2026
  • This partnership, which spans breakfast, lunch, and dinner, works well on a few levels.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Take.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/take. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

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