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

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

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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?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
The Washington Nationals had already taken the lead earlier in the fifth inning, but Crews’s three-run home run helped nail down a 7-3 win over the Kansas City Royals. Danielle Allentuck, Washington Post, 16 June 2026 Fans who chose to take shuttle buses, as tournament organizers urged fans to do, generally seemed to have an easy commute. Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026
Noun
Cryo Dirty Martini with a Caviar Bump At Caspian’s Cocktails & Caviar at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, cocktails and caviar take center stage, with playful, indulgent caviar bites and creative, handcrafted cocktails made for sipping. Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026 Hundreds of people braved the rain and thunderstorms overnight to document the take-down. Frank Langfitt, NPR, 13 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for take
Recent Examples of Synonyms for take
Verb
  • If the results hold, Whitcomb said Village Farms and its roughly two dozen investors backing the development would not return it to voters.
    Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2026
  • Scott, whose family has held Chiefs season tickets for more than a half-century, said his usual path to the stadium was inaccessible.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Josh Hokit dominated the first round against Derrick Lewis and had an armbar attempt for the final 30 seconds.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 June 2026
  • The populist Swiss People’s Party, which has the most seats in parliament, has stirred up and fostered anti-migration sentiment over the years, notably about an influx of workers from European Union nations.
    Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • Here's a look at the collectible pin and how to get it.
    Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Dec. 2025
  • Swift covered a variety of topics while speaking with Colbert, from her Kansas City Chiefs star fiancé Travis Kelce being the love of her life to getting her masters back.
    Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Broadhead ultimately chose to leave college athletics of her own accord just nine months later, for a job at the streaming service Crunchyroll.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
  • Ryan, Duran snubbed Joe Ryan and Jhoan Duran weren’t chosen despite having strong cases for what would have been their first All-Star selections.
    Aaron Gleeman, New York Times, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • White, along with casino and resort executive brothers Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, bought the nearly bankrupt fight promotion for only $2 million in January 2001.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 June 2026
  • That was actually the settlement of a long-term dispute over arms Iran bought from the US before the Islamic revolution.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • There’s a lot of repairing and resolution that needs to happen in this final episode, but luckily things start strong with Liz and Jo-Ellen pulling each other aside to talk things through on the beach.
    Tom Smyth, Vulture, 15 June 2026
  • The verdict was delivered amid difficult personal circumstances for Mette-Marit, Hoiby’s mother, who needs a lung transplant for pulmonary fibrosis.
    Reuters, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • This is undoubtedly a more active trip, with many guests engaging in long, intense hikes or sea kayaking excursions, though gentler paces accommodated those with less mobility.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 June 2026
  • Grape growers and winemakers are shutting their doors or are being forced to adapt their products and amend their marketing plans to accommodate changing consumer demands.
    Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • Over the course of a 25-year career in entertainment, Foley also worked as a visual effects artist, sound mixer, camera operator, producer, and showrunner, on programs for CBS, NBC, the CW, Animal Planet, A&E, Discovery, YouTube, and Amazon.
    Oliver Gettell, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Dec. 2025
  • Spot Drafts and Seal Leaks The heating system won’t have to work as hard if these basic winter prep steps are taken.
    Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Dec. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Take.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/take. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

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