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
-
Young Man in a Hurry substitutes status anxiety for race.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
24 Feb. 2026
-
This kind of both-sides-ism, increasingly common in right-leaning partisan media ecosystems, substitutes balance of the blame for balance of the facts.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
There is great skepticism about Ellison’s ability to make the high-wire act work while Paramount Skydance shoulders a mountain of debt supplied by a consortium that includes Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Teams feel uncertainty at the top, momentum slows, and the CEO quietly shoulders more stress, not less.—
Melissa Houston,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Unfortunately, though, she’s still possessed by the spirit of Mary Shelley, whose voice seizes her body with tiresome frequency.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Now, her family must reckon with the consequences as Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) seizes an opportunity to regain her position.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Everything about it — its look, its style, even its sound — stands in stark opposition to the trends of the moment.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
In a chaotic and unpredictable world, somebody with artificially TV-friendly looks stands in front of a map that isn’t there and attempts to prognosticate the unknowable future.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That measurement also assumes the buyer has a 20% down payment, which in this case would be $80,060.—
Sarah Agostino,
CNBC,
7 Mar. 2026
-
That assumes everything lines up next offseason.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Barber then grabs her firearm from her vehicle and Riley's girlfriend also retrieves an item from the vehicle, according to the complaint.—
Drake Bentley,
jsonline.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Isabelle slides off Sarah’s lap, flings the towel, pulls on her swimming mask, grabs her mom’s hand and tugs her toward the pool.—
Gerald Witt,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As the day progresses, the community fills in naturally.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Feb. 2026
-
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
-
Every team accepts at least some and some teams accept a lot.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Hays County Crime Stoppers accepts anonymous tips at 800-324-TIPS (8477).—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Takes over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/takes%20over. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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