TAKES ON Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words

takes on

verb

present tense third-person singular of take on

as in faces

to enter into contest or conflict with will take on his chief opponent in the next political debate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in employs

to provide with a paying job decided to take her on as store manager

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in borrows

to take for one's own use (something originated by another) recently arrived immigrants who are eager to take on the language and culture of their adopted homeland

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 on If no candidate secures a majority of the vote in Tuesday's primary, the contest could head to a runoff later this month to determine who takes on Democrat Annie Andrews in November. — Caroline Linton, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026 Shadowbox takes on management of Kaufman Astoria after a tumultuous period at the studios. — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026 Joshua takes on heavyweight contender Kristian Prenga in the main event of an overall strong card. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 Charlize Theron, who takes on the role of the temptress nymph Calypso, has leaned toward the seductive, wearing Tom Ford short-shorts on one carpet and a black Givenchy dress with a thigh-high slit on another. — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 An InStyle writer gathered seven dimensional takes on the trend to inspire your next salon visit, ahead. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 6 July 2026 Belgium takes on the United States later Monday for a spot in the quarterfinals. — ABC News, 6 July 2026 Brazil takes on Japan in an enticing first game of the day, while the Netherlands and Morocco meet in one of the more balanced matchups of the round. — Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 29 June 2026 Some of the 32 students will head to Boston Stadium on Friday, as Norway takes on France in one of the premier contests on the entire World Cup slate to date. — Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 26 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for takes on

Verb

But this notion that AI data centers are quickly popping up everywhere is belied by the fact that their construction faces massive hurdles – regardless of whether anyone wants them in their backyard or not.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Michael Ketcherside also faces a charge of promotion of prostitution.

— Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of faces

Verb

Caillois employs this term throughout his 1960 book Méduse et cie (The Mask of Medusa), which traces this hypnotic phenomenon through human as well as natural history.

— Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026
Canvas employs a broad set of AI models in the way tools from Luma, OpenArt and Runway do.

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of employs

Verb

The story turns Hishem, on a customs officer on the Algerian-Tunisian border, who encounters Tesla, a donkey lost in the desert with headphones over his ears, with a bag of cocaine on his back.

— Annika Pham, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
The strongest plan is not the one that never encounters disruption.

— Kristin Vance Richards, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of encounters

Verb

Saldaña plays Joe McNamara, a CIA station chief leading the covert Lioness unit, which recruits and trains female soldiers for global counter-terrorism missions, balancing this with a challenging family life.

— Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Georgia recruits better than almost anyone in the country, and the 2026 edition of this roster will feature a ton of former big-time prospects who waited their turn and were developed the old-fashioned way.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026