Synonyms of taking on

taking on

verb

present participle of take on

1

as in facing

to enter into contest or conflict with

will take on his chief opponent in the next political debate

Synonyms & Similar Words

• facing
• meeting
• encountering
• engaging
• fighting
• battling
• opposing
• emulating
• contending
• rivaling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• escaping
• evading
• retreating
• eluding

2

as in hiring

to provide with a paying job

decided to take her on as store manager

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hiring
• employing
• recruiting
• signing (up or on)
• laying on
• engaging
• paying
• placing
• retaining
• assuming
• enlisting
• keeping (on)
• feeing
• jobbing
• partnering
• reemploying
• promoting
• subcontracting
• contracting
• upgrading
• rehiring
• reengaging
• scouting
• apprenticing
• advancing
• headhunting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dismissing
• firing
• discharging
• canning
• laying off
• sacking
• locking out
• axing
• furloughing

3

as in borrowing

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

• borrowing
• adopting
• embracing
• taking up
• picking up on
• taking over
• following
• espousing
• cultivating
• assimilating
• utilizing
• using
• putting on
• incorporating
• bringing up
• copying
• imitating
• usurping
• appropriating
• absorbing
• honoring
• quoting
• cherishing
• domesticating
• affecting
• raising
• fostering
• heeding
• simulating
• arrogating
• naturalizing
• pretending
• assuming
• nurturing
• rearing
• treasuring
• prizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• giving up
• abandoning
• relinquishing
• forsaking
• surrendering
• rejecting
• throwing away
• throwing out
• disowning
• renouncing
• repudiating
• spurning
• discarding
• abjuring
• abnegating
• jettisoning
• junking

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of taking on

Most significantly, Jessica Lange returns to American Horror Story for the first time since Apocalypse, once again taking on her season-one role as Constance, the nosy neighbor who lived next door to the Murder House. — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2026

The main event of the night is Joshua Van taking on Alexandre Pantoja. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026

Tonga, the sixth-year pro who helped the New England Patriots return to the Super Bowl last season, excels at taking on double teams. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2026

Before taking on her first solo anchoring role, Hylton frequently served as a fill-in anchor across the network’s morning, dayside and primetime programming. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026

As the world expands, Musashi can go around taking on requests from the townfolk for resources to upgrade his sword, armor, and gauntlet. — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026

Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (PTBP1) binds to RNA in astrocytes, preventing them from taking on nerve cell characteristics. — Mike McRae 30, New Atlas, 31 Aug. 2026

But now Buc-ee's has set off a Buckeye backlash across Ohio and beyond after taking on a beaver in the city of Beavercreek. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

According to the World Economic Forum, women perform a disproportionate share of emotional labor in professional settings, from taking on invisible tasks at work to maintaining team harmony and managing other people’s needs. — Kelly Ehlers, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026