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

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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 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for takes on

Verb

The company now faces a larger test as deployments expand beyond a single vessel.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
Gluesenkamp Perez faces a tough challenge from John Braun, the minority leader of the Washington state Senate.

— Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of faces

Verb

The Indus basin supplies about 80% of the country's irrigated agriculture, a sector that employs 65% of the labor force and represents roughly 25% of Pakistan's gross domestic product, according to data compiled by Chatham House.

— Sam Meredith,Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
The sector employs more than 12,000 workers at over 1,800 firms.

— Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of employs

Verb

The aesthetic borrows from grunge and indie sleaze, blending undone eyeliner with pale, textured skin.

— Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
When the value of a property rises, Kiyosaki borrows more money against that equity, then treats that loan like tax-free income.

— Christopher Cox, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of borrows

Verb

Throughout the journey, the conservationist, television host and executive producer encounters black bears, alligators and native fish while documenting active wildlife rescue and conservation efforts.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026
Every leader eventually encounters a mountain that cannot be crossed through vision alone.

— Jason Bork, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of encounters

Verb

Shikiya’s new gig follows other recent Anonymous Content hires like Liza Burnett Fefferman as chief communications and marketing officer and Michael Sinclair as chief legal officer.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
In the film, cartoon legend Coyote (who can’t speak, of course) hires a reluctant, unambitious lawyer Kevin Avery (East Bay native Will Forte) to be his mouthpiece and legal advocate.

— Randy Myers, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of hires

Verb

Danny Boyle adopts a similar strategy with this snazzy screen adaptation, shot through with kinetic energy, convulsive editing and a liberal sprinkling of post-punk, electro-pop and indie rock that thumbs its nose at period accuracy.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Georgia adopts federal fuel waiver in hopes of easing cost pressure.

— Adam Beam, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of adopts

Verb

Set against the competitive world of Fleet Street, Murdoch purchases the failing Sun and recruits Lamb, a working-class editor with a very different idea of what a newspaper can be.

— Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
In the 1990 original, Quaid played a race team owner who recruits Cole into NASCAR, while Nicole Kidman played a neurosurgeon who becomes Cole’s love interest.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026