take 1 of 2

verb

ˈtāk How to pronounce take (audio)
Definition of takenext
1
as in to hold
to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms take my hand, or we'll get separated in this crowd

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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2
as in to have
to agree to receive whether willingly or reluctantly will you take that call? took a cut in pay

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3
as in to get
to become affected with (a disease or disorder) if you don't cover your head in this weather, you'll take cold and be stuck inside all weekend

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4
as in to choose
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities you can take the white side this time, since I got to be white for our last chess game

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5
as in to buy
to get possession of (something) by giving money in exchange for I'll take two cheeseburgers to go, please

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6
as in to need
to have as a requirement it will take a lot of courage to stand up for what is right

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7
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in to stand
to put up with (something painful or difficult) I can't take anymore of your whining about your former boyfriend

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10
as in to believe
to regard as right or true I think we can take his word for it

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11
as in to overcome
to achieve a victory over I know we can take that team

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12
as in to manage
to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently let's take each problem separately

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13
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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14
as in to kill
to deprive of life I never thought heart disease would take such an athletic and health-conscious person

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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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3
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
Most of the recent opinion polls project that his Yashar party will take 20 to 23 seats of the 120 up for grabs in the Knesset, more than Likud. — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 At the Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts in Southern California, the power of a smile is taken very seriously. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Noun
That’s less than half the $55,707 take of the midday draw winner, whose free Quick Pick ticket from the Belle Glade Town Star/Marathon at 1624 NE Avenue L had 2, 8, 9, 32 and 34. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026 This matters because, for a patient who has already left the country, graft take isn’t fully visible for months, and early signs of infection or improper healing are easy for a patient to misread alone. — Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for take
Recent Examples of Synonyms for take
  1. hold
  2. have
  3. get
  4. choose
  5. buy
  6. need
  7. accommodate
  8. work
Verb
  • Until now, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has insisted the men were still alive and being held by gangs.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The Boise State defense also produced a turnover-on-downs in the final minutes, batting away several shots at the end zone to hold the Cougars to 10 points.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of hold
Verb
  • The former electronic music has roots in disco, dub reggae, hip-hop—traditions in which the DJ, in search of records fresher and wilder than those in rival crates, is a central figure, urging producers to new heights of ingenuity.
    — Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 31 Oct. 2026
  • That's why parties involved in elections have their own monitors, who have been trained as the feds have.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of have
Verb
  • In fact, there is growing concern the current drought will only get worse.
    — Ava Berger, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Mbow Dem got the ball near the right corner of the box, shook Miami right back Gonzalo Lujan before taking a few dribbles to his left and rifling a shot into the left corner of the goal.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of get
Verb
  • Hormones aren’t the only treatments Some patients choose not to take full-body hormonal medications or are advised by their doctors to avoid them because of their medical histories or conditions.
    — Laura Ungar, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
  • With so many electrolyte products out there, choosing the right one is a challenge in and of itself — and the answer really depends on your needs, Efird says.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of choose
Verb
  • Although a committee of parents, teachers, students and other community leaders spelled out the need for the bond package, the voters didn’t buy in to it.
    — Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee also scrapped some ad buys in both states down the stretch, decisions that paid off as the party won both seats early on Tuesday night.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of buy
Verb
  • The agreement between Walter and Kushner, which still needs to be signed, will need to be reviewed by the NBA.
    — Broderick Turner Follow, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Wyatt needed an onside kick recovery for any chance of an improbable comeback and Adrian Dunn delivered.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of need
Verb
  • Brick-and-mortar facilities also tend to have more regular staff who are trained to understand accommodating disabled guests within their specific location.
    — Maribeth Romslo, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2026
  • These two areas occupy nearly the entire length of the home and offer the space needed to accommodate large parties without overwhelming smaller gatherings.
    — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of accommodate
Verb
  • On the long touchdown catch-and-run, Johnson and Mahomes worked it perfectly.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Ben’s view Hoffman, who sometimes works from a small swivel chair in her children’s room, has followed a path from social video into the center of the swirling news cycles of true crime and celebrity.
    — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of work

Phrases Containing take

Browse Nearby Words

taipans
take
take aback
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Cite this Entry

“Take.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/take. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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