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

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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

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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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
Winnipeg took a game that was slipping away, and often controlled by Blues’ stars Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, and turned it into a 1-0 series lead. Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025 Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton took a lackluster feud and doused it with tension in the span of one shoot promo. Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Noun
From Zero is Linkin Park’s first full album of new material since the passing of founding member Chester Bennington, and the extended take is coming this spring. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025 This includes cops on the take and a Joliet roadhouse drug dealer (Chidi Ajufo) who livens things up. Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for take
Recent Examples of Synonyms for take
Verb
  • At the lowest income levels, only about 13% of households held retirement accounts in 2022, according to the federal Survey of Consumer Finances.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Today, a total of five firms hold significant shares in the defense market, each with annual revenue that exceeds $10 billion.
    MICHAEL BROWN, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The play-in tournament means you are certified to have had a mediocre season, like Miami’s 37-45.
    Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Seven additional people involved in the collision had minor injuries.
    Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • After the performances are over and this year's inductees are revealed, viewers will get the chance to vote for their favorite contestants before eliminations.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Otherwise, a ton of talented players got to achieve their dreams this weekend.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The wide availability of options allows men to choose the approach best suited to their individual needs.
    Rhiannon Frater, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
  • There are two battery sizes to choose from: a 44.9 kWh unit or, as tested, the 60.4 kWh pack, which will get you 265 miles (426 km) on a charge, according to the WLTP scheme, while feeding a 201 hp (150 kW) motor.
    Alex Goy, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Sure, the Bears did a masterful job of fortifying the interior of the offensive line in March, buying themselves flexibility to navigate the draft with eyes scanning in all directions.
    Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025
  • All the Latest Tech, Tested by Our Experts Sign up for the Lab Report newsletter to receive PCMag's latest product reviews, buying advice, and insights.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Not every villain needs to be Thanos – sometimes the best/worst ones, like Val, lean more toward real life.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Prioritize sleep: Most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep; too much or too little can trigger a migraine attack.
    Sarah Bradley, Health, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Other upcoming vehicles will also be developed to accommodate traditional internal combustion, hybrids and E-power.
    Mark Phelan, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The government has since decided to reopen the application process to accommodate new applications.
    Marta Abbà, Wired News, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Trading Warren and some other top prospects for Alcántara could work, but what next?
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Thematically, the fractured friendship works well in a story that is so much about the joys of friendship and the pain of a camaraderie betrayed.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 26 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Take.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/take. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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