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

Synonyms & Similar Words

8
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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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 wolf has been protected by the Endangered Species Act since 2022 in Wisconsin, and many other states, preventing hunting, trapping or other lethal take or management actions. Steven Martinez, jsonline.com, 28 Oct. 2025 That all felt like a fresh take. Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 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
  • Helm rises too, goes as high as possible, gets a little giddy (there are upper limits to Helm’s domain).
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The Joe Gibbs Racing driver, Hamlin, then went to pit for four new tires while Hendrick Motorsports’ Larson only got two which placed him in fifth position ahead of Hamlin, who was in 10th.
    Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The arrangement empowers the co-investors to pick and choose their own individual deals, the great lure of directs in general.
    Shawn Tully, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2025
  • Smith chose to write about her discovery not to reveal some great secret or proclaim a new identity.
    Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 31 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
  • 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
  • In Galaxy Mapper, author Allie Summers and illustrator Sian James introduce readers to French astrophysicist Hélène Courtois, a working scientist who studies cosmography, or mapping the observable universe.
    Caroline Carlson, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Researchers have developed a new algorithm that can help multiple drones work together to control and transport heavy payloads.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Take.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/take. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.

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