take 1 of 2

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

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

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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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take

2 of 2

noun

1
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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2
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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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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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
In the midst of filming the next season, PEOPLE confirmed that Flueger took a leave of absence for a personal matter. Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025 Savannah wanted him out for taking her bag and water bottle. Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
Among them, Colleen Allen’s debut velvet maxi stuns in its simplicity, and Dries Van Noten’s bohemian take, fresh off the FW25 runway, makes a convincing case for maximalism. Laura Jackson, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2025 And on this particular take, the flames immediately lick up the side of the prop and almost catch on the fabric of his sleeve. Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for take
Recent Examples of Synonyms for take
Verb
  • The eight-hour event, which was held at a local school, attracted 800 to 900 people, Waggoner says — and one of them, Brenda Hodgkin, 41, was both a volunteer and beneficiary.
    Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Fentanyl poisoners who harm and exploit others will be held accountable.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The former first round pick in the 2024 MLB draft had a masterful outing, finishing with 12 strikeouts, which broke Don Newcombe’s rookie record for the most in a World Series start, set in 1949.
    Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Hank remained single throughout the series but has had brief moments of chemistry with other characters, including with Nina Chapman (Sara Bues) in season 11.
    Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Ciske has also gotten creative in making sure kids can keep coming with their guardians.
    Jordyn Noennig, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The company got Turkish movie legend Mehmet Çevik as a pitchman.
    Moisés Naím, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Blue Jays chose Yesavage in the first round of last year’s draft out of East Carolina University.
    Andy McCullough, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • During his free agency ahead of the 2024 season, Ohtani visited Toronto as one of his finalists but ultimately chose to stay in Southern California and play for the Dodgers.
    Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • That's how people buy aviation—safety and cost.
    James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • While reflecting on her first performance, Furtado remembered buying the pink dress from a store called Original on Queen West in Toronto, and also picking up some sparkly platform shoes for the monumental moment.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Women aged 18–50 need about 25-28 grams of fiber per day, while men aged 18–50 need about 31-34 grams.
    Merve Ceylan, Health, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Unlike laminate or marble, granite countertops need to be cleaned in a specific way to prevent any damage.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The great infrastructure projects of the last century included airports, transnational highways, and deep water harbors that accommodated cargo containers.
    Bipul Sinha, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Gymshark and Nike alum Ronald Reijmers was named vice president of global retail to accommodate the restructure.
    Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Unlike many recycling approaches, this method works across multiple plastics and even mixtures, producing gram-scale yields that point to real-world feasibility, as per the release.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The humanities program will work with the arts board's Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program to train master and apprentice Wisconsin folk artists in planning and producing public programs that showcase and contextualize cultural traditions, stories and histories.
    Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Take.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/take. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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