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
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 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
-
Now, her family must reckon with the consequences as Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) seizes an opportunity to regain her position.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Iran seizes 2 ships on smuggling claims DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Iran seized two foreign oil tankers in the Persian Gulf on Thursday, state television reported, claiming the vessels had been smuggling fuel.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
During these meetings, Amodei stands in front of the entire company with a three- or four-page document and speaks for an hour on topics ranging from product strategy to geopolitics, as well as the broader AI industry.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And one important consequence of this newfound chromatic primacy is that, in a work like Early One Morning, 1962, his sculpture assumes two very different experiences of form depending on one’s viewpoint.—
Gordon Hughes,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
-
One assumes that homeless folks would want to move indoors if given the chance, but this is not necessarily the case.—
Brian Barth,
Mercury News,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Enraged, John grabs the ring from Carolyn’s finger.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Billie jumps from the second floor, injuring her foot, but Chee grabs her.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 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
-
The store also accepts SNAP and WIC benefits.—
Bryce Covert,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Family The hotel accepts only children who are over 12—although Villa One accepts all ages and Villa Two over-eights.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Takes over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/takes%20over. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
