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 The operator brings the experience while the machine takes on the physically demanding work. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026 The mental load of harder cases As AI takes on routine tasks, human agents may be left dealing with a greater share of complicated cases — and be required to pick up the slack when the technology fails. — Lindsay Dodgson, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026 Clarks x Damson Madder Damson Madder x Clarks Originals collection, which launched Thursday, features two fresh takes on Clarks archive styles. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2026 Closing out the evening at Louis Armstrong Stadium, American Learner Tien takes on Russian Karen Khachanov, hoping to join compatriots Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen in the last eight. — Reuters, NBC news, 7 Sep. 2026 Newport Harbor is 9-0 and takes on Edison and Marina in league matches this week before beginning play in the Dave Mohs tournament. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Hylton takes on a task that has for many years been anchored by Alex Witt. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for takes on

Verb

As the region faces an affordable housing shortage, preserving existing homeownership is critical.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 11 Nov. 2026
Prosecutors said Abeyta faces a maximum sentence of 42 years to life in prison.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of faces

Verb

Today, Sonic Fire Tech employs around 20 people and is working toward certification.

— Salomé Grouard, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2026
When a child is sick, parents do not think about hospital systems, organizational boundaries or which institution employs which specialist.

— Matthew Love, Sun Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of employs

Verb

The oil giant is also building a stadium, investing in renewable power projects, and often borrows during downturns to maintain funding to the state.

— Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Its aesthetic borrows heavily from the S26 lineup, right down to the flat-edge aluminum frame with rounded corners.

— Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of borrows

Verb

Set on England’s southern coast after an unexplained catastrophe, the darkly comic novel follows a beachcomber who encounters a mysterious, shape-shifting artifact.

— Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026
From there, Seyfried becomes part of the documentary herself, reprising her role as Holmes in reenactments of conversations and encounters Fielder was unable to capture on camera.

— Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2026

Definition of encounters

Verb

The program meets military medics, corpsmen and service members at the crossroads of their transition, guiding them into professional health programs.

— Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2026
At the location in North Miami-Dade, a group of Black veterans meets every day of the year except for Christmas.

— Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of meets

Verb

Working in medicine, in particular, provides an opportunity to connect to voters, says Erik Polyak, executive director of 314 Action, a political organization that recruits and supports Democratic candidates with scientific and medical backgrounds.

— Angela Haupt, Time, 4 Nov. 2026
The group's president, Shaughnessy Naughton, says that the organization does leadership development and recruits scientists to run across the country, then helps candidates in a variety of ways.

— Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026