1
as in substitutes
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 shoulders
to take to or upon oneself
took over the responsibility of caring for the animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in seizes
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of takes over
While everyone may argue how the infamous snap wouldn't have happened had Peter just stuck to the original plan, his thirst for vengeance takes over.
—
Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Sometimes we are overloaded and another grid takes over.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Arreguín on Sunday takes over the role which can have a major influence in deciding the fate of what homelessness and housing bills make it through the Legislature and what those proposals say.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Towards the end of the film is where this other, more emotional music takes over that really has to work with the exact dialogue and monologues.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
White space preserves agency before that takes over.
—Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
No young officer who takes over from Maduro is likely to empower a figure as uncompromising as Machado.
—Quico Toro, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Others will be displaced by AI that takes over processes which no longer require human intervention.
—Hugh Son, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
Scott Rudin’s Little Bear Ridge Road takes over the theater next.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Sometimes we are overloaded and another grid takes over.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Arreguín on Sunday takes over the role which can have a major influence in deciding the fate of what homelessness and housing bills make it through the Legislature and what those proposals say.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Towards the end of the film is where this other, more emotional music takes over that really has to work with the exact dialogue and monologues.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
White space preserves agency before that takes over.
—Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
No young officer who takes over from Maduro is likely to empower a figure as uncompromising as Machado.
—Quico Toro, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Others will be displaced by AI that takes over processes which no longer require human intervention.
—Hugh Son, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
Scott Rudin’s Little Bear Ridge Road takes over the theater next.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for takes over
Verb
-
Executive interpretation increasingly substitutes for legislative intent.—
Alejandro Reyes,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Charlton hit back through Miles Leaburn’s 57th-minute goal, but Marc Guiu swiftly replied and substitutes Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez put the gloss on the scoreline in stoppage time.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Teams feel uncertainty at the top, momentum slows, and the CEO quietly shoulders more stress, not less.—
Melissa Houston,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Buckley shoulders intense on-screen distress without losing grasp of her character’s humanity, and Mescal lets his wan charm melt into something more haunted as Shakespeare ages and wrestles with loss.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
27 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Now, her family must reckon with the consequences as Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) seizes an opportunity to regain her position.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Iran seizes 2 ships on smuggling claims DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Iran seized two foreign oil tankers in the Persian Gulf on Thursday, state television reported, claiming the vessels had been smuggling fuel.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That stands in stark contrast to cities like Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Denver and Portland which use a variety of funding streams to pay for a range of indigent services.—
Chaya Tong,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Feb. 2026
-
If the rest of the lineup holds, the Rock the Country festival will be held in two-night stands in cities around the country this spring and summer.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Too much of California’s policy assumes technological breakthroughs will simply appear on schedule, at an affordable cost, to meet the looming lofty goals.—
Suzette Valladares,
Oc Register,
15 Feb. 2026
-
But this assumes the PLA’s claim is, of course, true.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Soon thereafter, a gear fishing pal of yours gifted you an old, unused fly rod, and that totally grabs a hold of you and completely directs the rest of your life.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The man grabs her and also takes her cell phone.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As the day progresses, the community fills in naturally.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Feb. 2026
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Phibbs said his grandmother’s story is integral and historically fills in gaps recognizing people who might have been either overlooked or there wasn’t enough information on them.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Published by Tor Nightfire in February 2023, the book centers on Eric Ross, a single father struggling to provide for his two daughters, who accepts a job documenting paranormal activity within a notorious Texas residence.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
10 Feb. 2026
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Sicurella recommends finding a local recycling center that specifically accepts fabric and textiles.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Takes over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/takes%20over. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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