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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 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 The winner of that game takes on the winner of a match between Canada and South Africa on July 4 in Houston. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 26 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 Lola Vice will put her NXT Women’s Championship on the line against Kendal Grey, Myles Borne will defend the NXT North American Championship against Tavion Heights, Wren Sinclair will face a challenger for the WWE Women’s Speed Championship and Saquon Shugars takes on Dion Lennox. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for takes on

Verb

Prosecutors said Garcia faces a maximum sentence of 181 years to life in prison.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026
Two Boston city councilors are pushing for a change in city law that would require Mayor Michelle Wu to report street projects annually as Wu faces criticism for stalling road work before a city employee was killed by a truck.

— Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 22 July 2026

Definition of faces

Verb

The Steamfitters were staging protests outside the Pfizer site, accusing the MetroLoft — which employs a mix of union and nonunion contractors — of building on the cheap and tolerating unsafe work conditions.

— Andrew Rice, Curbed, 23 July 2026
That adoption, which had previously been unreported, seems consistent for a team that leans on data, employs a Gen Z roster and trusts a coaching staff stocked with millennials who care how fast their pitchers throw ball four.

— Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of employs

Verb

One partner may love mid-century modern while the other leans farmhouse, but there is almost always a middle path that borrows from both.

— Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 July 2026
And as November approaches, more contours of the Democratic platform on what to do about it are taking shape, staking out a position that borrows from both the left and the right.

— Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of borrows

Verb

The agent encounters its own limitations, its own failure modes, its own unexpected strengths.

— John Werner, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
The players in this year’s final will all know each other well from La Liga encounters — 24 of the 52 across both squads feature for Spanish clubs (18 for Spain and six for Argentina).

— Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Definition of encounters

Verb

So, when Thursday’s term sheet was sent to the Blazers, the team was put off by asks from the city, particularly the $3 million annual fee for a property tax offset and a requirement that the team hires union workers.

— Jason Quick, New York Times, 21 July 2026
The face of evil, Clemons hires him to command his army against the villagers, but Skelton is hard to control.

— Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 21 July 2026

Definition of hires

Verb

The Premier League adopts the same finance control framework this season, but clubs not in European competitions will instead work to an 85 per cent cap.

— Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 22 July 2026
What to read next But the show also adopts a pretty liberal approach to the source material.

— Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of adopts

Verb

Chadwick is a former pastor of Forest Hill, which meets at the Ballantyne YMCA for one of its branches.

— Chase Jordan July 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
But there’s another option for travelers looking for a more intentional vacation where the ocean meets high-end service.

— Megan duBois, Southern Living, 22 July 2026

Definition of meets

Verb

The State Department designated Comercializadora de Servicios Médicos Cubanos, the state entity that manages the missions, and the Unidad Central de Cooperación Médica, which recruits doctors and other health workers for assignments overseas.

— Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
An ever-expanding array of brands — from Microsoft to Victoria’s Secret to Red Bull — regularly recruits student creators through ambassadorship programs and on-campus events.

— Avery Stone, HollywoodReporter, 23 July 2026