TAKE ON Synonyms: 102 Similar and Opposite Words

take on

verb

Definition of take on

as in to meet

to enter into contest or conflict with will take on his chief opponent in the next political debate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to employ

to provide with a paying job decided to take her on as store manager

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to borrow

to take for one's own use (something originated by another) recently arrived immigrants who are eager to take on the language and culture of their adopted homeland

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 on Initially, Ritts decided to take on the project single-handedly. — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 8 Nov. 2026 And Swift was back at Arrowhead on Sunday to watch her husband, tight end Travis Kelce, and the Chiefs take on the New York Jets. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2026 The 35-year-old political consultant took on another expensive outside campaign this year — this one to support Councilmember Nithya Raman and oppose Bass. — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026 That means taking on corruption by working with Mayor Mamdani to push the necessary post-Adams ethics reform his City Hall hasn’t yet prioritized. — John Avlon, New York Daily News, 8 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for take on

Recent Examples of Synonyms for take on

Verb

The couple met in 2018 through a Mormon dating app and tied the knot the next year, before welcoming their first child, Nora, in November 2021.

— Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2026
Whether you’re headed to a Saturday tailgate, taking a leaf-peeping nature walk, or just meeting friends for dinner, there’s something for everyone.

— Kate Donovan, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of meet

Verb

While many commissioners supported the idea, commission staff said the benchmark was too stringent to employ without understanding how the new sand placement will fare over the next few months or years.

— Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Unlike woodpeckers, which mostly use their neck muscles to drill, Akis employ their entire body’s momentum, from feet to beak, to slam into the wood.

— Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of employ

Verb

One feature the mini borrows from the iPad Pro but that other iPads lack is the option for nano-texture glass, which is designed to reduce glare.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 5 Nov. 2026
Wealthy founders and investors borrow against their stock to access cash without selling shares and triggering capital-gains taxes.

— Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of borrow

Verb

San Jose Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky, after losing to the Senators on Saturday, called them the best team his team has faced all season, commending them for being fast, competitive and connected.

— Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Cotton has opposed ending daylight saving for years, arguing that children would head to school before sunrise and commuters could face safety risks during the winter months.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of face

Verb

When the decision to hire Schottenheimer was made, anything that happened afterward immediately fell on the Joneses up top.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Nov. 2026
Being on a massive TV set is an intimidating enough position to find yourself in, let alone playing a character who would quickly become an antagonist to the powerful people who’ve hired her.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of hire

Verb

Employees may need mental-health or substance-use support but encounter barriers when trying to locate an appropriate provider.

— Soniya Bopache, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
The version using incorrect memory repeatedly encountered the same obstacle and never completed the journey.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of encounter

Verb

The move comes as the Justice Department investigates allegations that Democrats recruited the second Dan Sullivan to siphon votes from the Republican incumbent.

— Justin Papp,Caleigh Keating,Garrett Downs,Kevin Breuninger,Dan Mangan, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026
Laika was a 3-year-old stray husky-spitz mix from the streets of Moscow, and she was recruited by the Soviet space program for her small size and calm temperament.

— Hanneke Weitering, Space.com, 3 Nov. 2026