1
as in to substitute
to serve as a replacement usually for a time only
I'll take over for her until she gets back from her morning break
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to accept
to take to or upon oneself
took over the responsibility of caring for the animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to seize
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
students protesting the war took over the college's radio station
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in seizure
the unlawful taking or withholding of something from the rightful owner under a guise of authority
the new government's high-handed takeover of private industries
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of take over
Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026
Many restaurant versions cook the chicken in a tandoor, a traditional clay oven, which can take over an hour, not including several hours for marinating.
—Kate Williams, AJC.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
The hope of one day inheriting Cal’s construction empire was part of what motivated Nate to act so … violently in high school, but without the context of how that takeover happened, his success strains credulity.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for take over
Verb
Half a century ago, Paige created Eva Perón in Evita, originated Grizabella in Cats and played Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard at the Adelphi and on Broadway, taking over from Betty Buckley.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026
Many restaurant versions cook the chicken in a tandoor, a traditional clay oven, which can take over an hour, not including several hours for marinating.
—Kate Williams, AJC.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
Paramount Skydance, since its takeover by David Ellison, has eliminated more than 2,000 jobs.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
The hope of one day inheriting Cal’s construction empire was part of what motivated Nate to act so … violently in high school, but without the context of how that takeover happened, his success strains credulity.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for take over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for take over
Verb
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The resort implements its sustainability commitment in ways beyond just substituting plastic water bottles (with reusable ones made of sugarcane waste) and harvesting rainwater to flush toilets.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice.—
Malana VanTyler,
Sacbee.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The two later accepted 19 and 13 years, respectively, through a plea deal.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Your 9th House of Higher Learning receives this New Moon, inviting you to accept growing pains as natural parts of life.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Shaw says a firearm that was believed to have been used was seized.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
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The laws, which her party backed in recent years, eliminated preliminary detention in certain cases and raised the threshold for seizing criminal assets.—
Franklin Briceño,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Administration officials have credited Section 702 with helping to rescue American hostages overseas, enabling the seizure of fentanyl precursor chemicals from China and even preventing a terrorist attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Austria.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2026
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That year, Ukraine elected a Western-leaning government, preceding Russia’s seizure of the Crimean Peninsula and arming of insurgent groups to occupy parts of the industrialised east of the country.—
Colin Millar,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Apartment blocks stand in rows, their windows flickering with fire.—
Babak Rahimi,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
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But that cannot be a reason to try to stand in front of technology.—
Yunus Emre Tozal,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Lyons later assumed leadership roles at ICE headquarters, including as the assistant director for field operations at ICE's deportation branch, Enforcement and Removal Operations.—
Camilo Montoya-Galvez,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
If the opening feels uncertain, readers assume the rest will be off track, too.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Russia occupies about 20% of Ukraine.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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Instead, Kahan occupies a funny spot in the pop-music cosmos—music for people who own too much performance fleece to embrace the bombast of Taylor Swift but aren’t quite feral enough for the cacophony of Geese.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Lawmakers opted to advance the policy bill and the appropriations bill that allocates the $5 million in existing funding from other accounts to the governor’s desk, acknowledging that school districts have an obligation to educate all students.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
11 Apr. 2026
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Within a day in February, for example, the Legislature passed out a $90 million appropriation to counter the federal government’s block on Medicaid dollars going to Planned Parenthood clinics.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Take over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/take%20over. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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