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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hiring
to provide with a paying job
decided to take her on as store manager
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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 taking on
But Motta, with a brazenness that had become her signature, kept taking on new clients.
—
Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Brandon Quintin Adams joined The Sandlot as Kenny DeNunez, taking on the part after appearing in Moonwalker (1988), The People Under the Stairs (1991), and The Mighty Ducks (1992).
—Madeline Boardman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
Oracle is leasing Stargate's data center campus in Abilene, and has been funding the buildout by taking on tens of billions of dollars in debt.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2026
Hurley came to UConn in 2018 to rebuild after the first losing seasons in 30 years, taking on the program Jim Calhoun forged into a national power.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
Rocky, who has explored his sartorial aspirations in recent years by cochairing the 2025 Met Gala and taking on positions at Ray-Ban and Puma, was on trial a year ago for a 2021 shooting involving former friend A$AP Relli.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
Kimber White, president of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, credited Congress for taking on housing.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
When Geese came back with last year’s Getting Killed, with a sound Sheffield compares to an In Rainbows cover band taking on Talking Heads’ Fear of Music, the world was more than ready.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2026
Perveen, a partner with her father in their law firm, is excited about taking on as clients director Subhas Ghoshal and his beautiful wife, Rochana, a popular movie star who recently left a rival studio.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 1 Mar. 2026
Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Brandon Quintin Adams joined The Sandlot as Kenny DeNunez, taking on the part after appearing in Moonwalker (1988), The People Under the Stairs (1991), and The Mighty Ducks (1992).
—Madeline Boardman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
Oracle is leasing Stargate's data center campus in Abilene, and has been funding the buildout by taking on tens of billions of dollars in debt.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2026
Hurley came to UConn in 2018 to rebuild after the first losing seasons in 30 years, taking on the program Jim Calhoun forged into a national power.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
Rocky, who has explored his sartorial aspirations in recent years by cochairing the 2025 Met Gala and taking on positions at Ray-Ban and Puma, was on trial a year ago for a 2021 shooting involving former friend A$AP Relli.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
Kimber White, president of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, credited Congress for taking on housing.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
When Geese came back with last year’s Getting Killed, with a sound Sheffield compares to an In Rainbows cover band taking on Talking Heads’ Fear of Music, the world was more than ready.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2026
Perveen, a partner with her father in their law firm, is excited about taking on as clients director Subhas Ghoshal and his beautiful wife, Rochana, a popular movie star who recently left a rival studio.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taking on
Verb
-
Parker said the tax would help generate about $50 million a year for the School District of Philadelphia, which is facing a $300 million structural deficit.—
Kerri Corrado,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Outgoing police chief Kathy Lester told The Sacramento Bee on Monday that the department was facing significant budget and staffing challenges, and that the department will host a recruitment academy for hopeful law enforcement officers.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Similar to Kirby, Ahn believes personality can make or break a hiring decision.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
-
That means clear rules and oversight for technology affecting civil rights, public services or equal opportunity; protecting employee and resident data; and ensuring algorithms don’t drive decisions about wages, discipline or hiring without accountability and transparency.—
Maria Noel Fernandez,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Inflation in March surged to its highest level in years, and a frozen Federal funds rate that hasn't been reduced since December is helping to keep borrowing costs high.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
City officials could also consider putting another bond issue to voters in the coming months to help pay for necessary improvements to the buildings, borrowing $12-15 million against future tax payments.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Upon arriving, Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, spent time at Bondi Beach, meeting volunteer first responders from the Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club in Sydney.—
Helen Murphy,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Lula and Sánchez, along with ministers from their cabinets, are meeting at a former royal palace in Barcelona on Friday when they are expected to sign agreements regarding their economies, technology and social policies.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Swalwell did not respond to requests for comment Sunday on the letter or an unrelated federal investigation into his allegedly employing a nanny who overstayed her visa.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The federal law that ICE is now employing to block many immigrants from bail also requires mandatory detention — which attorneys argue is the point.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The state is an outlier nationwide because of its stubborn resistance to adopting cleaner, cheaper sources of energy.—
Margie Mason,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Vivian, who came out as transgender in 2020, legally dropped her father's surname 18 years later, adopting Wilson as her last name.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Vatican has made clear that Catholic social teaching disapproves of the types of authoritarian leaders that Leo is encountering on his visit, the first to the continent by history's first American pope.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
For anyone just encountering her name, here’s what to know.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Among other Islamic groups, Schild labeled the Muslim Student Association and CAIR as dangerous organizations leading the Islamic infiltration and recruiting children to an extreme militant movement.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Many of the gangs' voluntary workers went home during Covid; not enough locals had the necessary language and computer skills, and recruiting people into cybercrime isn't always easy.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taking on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taking%20on. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
