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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8
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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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
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
Objects that are outdoors should be secured and caution should be taken if driving. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 Nov. 2025 Roseman took a hard public stance on the subject when asked about any trade talks involving Brown at the deadline. Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
The take-aways may echo far beyond New York. Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Nov. 2025 Want our sharpest, most relevant takes delivered straight to your inbox? Nancy Kaffer, Freep.com, 5 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for take
Recent Examples of Synonyms for take
Verb
  • While the Danish pharma giant holds the patents to these GLP-1s for the time being, some are due to expire as early as next year.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
  • In November 2026, 33 seats will be contested, 20 of which are currently held by Republicans and 13 by Democrats.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The company has pilot programs in Singapore, France, Spain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, among others.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Ovechkin now has eight points on the year despite the Capitals’ disappointing start to the 2025-2026 campaign.
    Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Their noise got loudest at night when the city became quiet.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
  • And Natalie is still justifiably concerned about her dad, calling him up during his night from hell and getting no information from him.
    Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Last week, four Republic of Ireland internationals playing in the Women’s Super League in England, Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace) and Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), chose not to have the poppy on their team shirts.
    Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025
  • The Dolphins chose not to spend the money (or match or surpass other teams’ offers) on several solid contributors after their rookie contracts ended.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • If this year’s March and June get-togethers were learning exercises — including for the staff after Tuchel began work in January — the next two and the one starting today (Sunday) are all about creating an atmosphere the players and the English public can all buy into.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Cureate does not warehouse or distribute food products, the company buys purchases the food order and the farmer delivers it to the customer, Bryden said.
    Cristina LaRue, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The Boston Red Sox will need to address their starting rotation this offseason, especially after former All-Star hurler Lucas Giolito opted out of his contract.
    Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Some CEOs are warning of a market correction, others of an inevitable mismatch between revenues and the massive capital expenditure needed to power AI.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Now, that is clearly an innovation that print cannot accommodate, but that a manuscript can.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The design also accommodates tech accessories, with vertical pouch configurations suitable for tablets.
    Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The company was also working with Transport for London on a double-decker electric bus, but the agency has yet to place an order.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 10 Nov. 2025
  • On Friday night the Supreme Court granted the request to block full SNAP payments as the case works its way through the courts.
    Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 10 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Take.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/take. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.

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