1
as in holds
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in has
to agree to receive whether willingly or reluctantly
will you take that call? took a cut in pay
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in gets
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in chooses
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in buys
to get possession of (something) by giving money in exchange for
I'll take two cheeseburgers to go, please
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in requires
to have as a requirement
it will take a lot of courage to stand up for what is right
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
8
9
as in stands
to put up with (something painful or difficult)
I can't take anymore of your whining about your former boyfriend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in believes
to regard as right or true
I think we can take his word for it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in overcomes
to achieve a victory over
I know we can take that team
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
12
as in manages
to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently
let's take each problem separately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
13
as in receives
to offer entrance (as to a place, school, or privilege) to
the school takes only a small percentage of the thousands of applicants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
14
as in destroys
to deprive of life
I never thought heart disease would take such an athletic and health-conscious person
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in reactions
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?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in yields
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
3
as in shares
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in variations
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
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 takes
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
Those split levels of child and adult consciousness give the film a certain piquancy, a little gap where drama can spark in a story where almost nothing really happens except a kid takes a plane ride, or several plane rides, with his mom.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
Social Security payment amounts are set to shrink unless Congress takes action to prevent it.
—Adisa Hargett-Robinson, The Washington Examiner, 16 May 2026
Florida’s governor will be out of work in seven months or so, when his successor takes office.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 16 May 2026
Hilary Duff takes center stage for her interview during SiriusXM's Small Stage Series in Los Angeles on May 14.
—People Staff, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
Alonso takes this opportunity to shake things up — albeit in a rigorously subtle fashion that will excite his experimentally-minded followers and likely alienate those interested in more traditional narratives.
—Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 16 May 2026
The All-Star big man takes Paul George off the dribble from the Sixers logo.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
The change in beds, food, schedules and houses put a toll on our physical body that takes days to recover.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2026
Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 15 May 2026
There’s no room for over-editing or re-takes, which adds a layer of transparency and excitement for viewers.
—Adam Rumanek, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2026
Projections for Innovation Toward the end of the panel discussion, Raskar got quick takes from the group about what is to come.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
The goal, Cogan’s first in over two years, set up a winner-takes-all third period and another remarkable moment from Poulin in the biggest PWHL game of her career.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 13 May 2026
As his other former debate partner Max Kellerman explained, Smith is at his best reacting cartoonishly to provocative takes, not constructing them.
—Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
Dua’s family is at the center of a number of scenes, which Basholli and cinematographer Lucie Baudinaud capture in long, unbroken takes.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 May 2026
That means the statewide popular vote does not dictate the state's five electors in a winner-takes-all system.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 13 May 2026
But Tom Peter, the mastermind behind the Lismore, Australia five-piece, is restless enough to have churned out three full-length records in just over a year, generally adopting the stance that demos and final takes are one in the same.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026
Verb
And doing it manually — finding every broker, submitting every opt-out form, rechecking every few months — takes hours.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
Those split levels of child and adult consciousness give the film a certain piquancy, a little gap where drama can spark in a story where almost nothing really happens except a kid takes a plane ride, or several plane rides, with his mom.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
Social Security payment amounts are set to shrink unless Congress takes action to prevent it.
—Adisa Hargett-Robinson, The Washington Examiner, 16 May 2026
Florida’s governor will be out of work in seven months or so, when his successor takes office.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 16 May 2026
Hilary Duff takes center stage for her interview during SiriusXM's Small Stage Series in Los Angeles on May 14.
—People Staff, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
Alonso takes this opportunity to shake things up — albeit in a rigorously subtle fashion that will excite his experimentally-minded followers and likely alienate those interested in more traditional narratives.
—Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 16 May 2026
The All-Star big man takes Paul George off the dribble from the Sixers logo.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
The change in beds, food, schedules and houses put a toll on our physical body that takes days to recover.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2026
Noun
Though its origins are disputed, artists from across the world have adopted the aesthetic, offering creative takes that go from hyperrealistic to surreal to playful and bright.
—Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 15 May 2026
There’s no room for over-editing or re-takes, which adds a layer of transparency and excitement for viewers.
—Adam Rumanek, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2026
Projections for Innovation Toward the end of the panel discussion, Raskar got quick takes from the group about what is to come.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
The goal, Cogan’s first in over two years, set up a winner-takes-all third period and another remarkable moment from Poulin in the biggest PWHL game of her career.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 13 May 2026
As his other former debate partner Max Kellerman explained, Smith is at his best reacting cartoonishly to provocative takes, not constructing them.
—Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
Dua’s family is at the center of a number of scenes, which Basholli and cinematographer Lucie Baudinaud capture in long, unbroken takes.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 May 2026
That means the statewide popular vote does not dictate the state's five electors in a winner-takes-all system.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 13 May 2026
But Tom Peter, the mastermind behind the Lismore, Australia five-piece, is restless enough to have churned out three full-length records in just over a year, generally adopting the stance that demos and final takes are one in the same.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for takes
Verb
-
The bank holds the underlying fiat fully reserved and does not lend or invest it.—
Boaz Sobrado,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Opened in the ’80s and lovingly restored in recent years, the park still holds a timeless charm of bright lights, rides, and carousel music that carries into the night.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The conceit also has a moral dimension.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
But Indiana still has key members of that team returning next season, including Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and Aaron Nesmith.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
When the sway gets too risky, the captain closes some of the outer decks.—
Akash Kapur,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
-
These dusters are meant to be replaced frequently, often after one to three uses, depending on the size of the space and how dusty your home gets.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
If Starmer chooses to step aside, or is ousted, his successor would become Britain’s sixth prime minister in seven years.—
Isa Soares,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
-
But where the décor favors restraint, the food chooses extravagance.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Campaign officials cited spending well above $25 million, citing $28 million in television ad buys alone.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2026
-
The company operates 17 hydropower facilities on the Snake River and its tributaries, and also buys hydropower seasonally from 68 small-scale projects across its service area, according to Bowlin.—
Angela Palermo
May 7,
Idaho Statesman,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Addressing long-term encampments requires consistent outreach, mental health care, sanitation access, and pathways to stable housing.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
-
Traditionally, maintaining vigilance in places like the South China Sea requires constant Naval patrols, which are expensive.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Mallorca also accommodates a relaxed pace, with boutique hotel stays, spa treatments and yoga built into many itineraries.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
11 May 2026
-
Although my prescription lenses work on the standard frames, some don’t, which is why there is now a $500 version that accommodates a wider range of prescriptions.—
Larry Magid,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Traffic can make crossing the city slow at times, but the location works well for travelers planning to explore both the pyramids and the central districts.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
-
This button-down shirt is well-suited for officewear thanks to its pinstripe design — a polished take on the trend that works with everything from slacks to midi skirts.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Takes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/takes. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
