1
as in substituting
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 assuming
to take to or upon oneself
took over the responsibility of caring for the animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in seizing
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
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Recent Examples of taking over
That move was bigger than a warehouse transaction, with Stord taking over Quiet’s former customer base and many employees moving over to the fulfillment provider.
—
Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
The play transferred to Broadway’s Booth Theatre that year, with Lavin replaced by Judith Light and Rachel Griffiths taking over for Marvel.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 26 May 2026
The county is taking over day-to-day oversight of the initiative from United Way.
—Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 12 May 2026
Those who aren’t taking over the whole place and enjoy more of a scene can flit over in the island’s speedboat to neighboring Hurawalhi, with its buzzy bar, big gym, and underwater restaurant.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Thomson led Philadelphia to the 2022 World Series after taking over for Girardi, losing to the Houston Astros in six games.
—Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Denver Mountain Parks will staff the welcome station at Echo Lake and manage the Mount Blue Sky Recreation Area, taking over that role from the Arapaho National Forest.
—John Meyer, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2026
With it, new media began taking over the arts’ function of representing reality.
—Andrey Mir, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Cushing rejoined the board in 2025, taking over Brandon Wright’s seat after his resignation.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
The play transferred to Broadway’s Booth Theatre that year, with Lavin replaced by Judith Light and Rachel Griffiths taking over for Marvel.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 26 May 2026
The county is taking over day-to-day oversight of the initiative from United Way.
—Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 12 May 2026
Those who aren’t taking over the whole place and enjoy more of a scene can flit over in the island’s speedboat to neighboring Hurawalhi, with its buzzy bar, big gym, and underwater restaurant.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Thomson led Philadelphia to the 2022 World Series after taking over for Girardi, losing to the Houston Astros in six games.
—Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Denver Mountain Parks will staff the welcome station at Echo Lake and manage the Mount Blue Sky Recreation Area, taking over that role from the Arapaho National Forest.
—John Meyer, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2026
With it, new media began taking over the arts’ function of representing reality.
—Andrey Mir, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Cushing rejoined the board in 2025, taking over Brandon Wright’s seat after his resignation.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taking over
Verb
-
The amounts are so small that adding or substituting Himalayan salt for regular salt will have no nutritional impact.—
Sheah Rarback,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2026
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The problem of companies substituting hemp for marijuana dates to 2018, when Congress legalized hemp, a close cousin of marijuana that has only trace amounts of THC, the psychoactive compound that makes people high.—
Christopher Osher,
ProPublica,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Massamba Diop has one of the highest ceilings of any transfer, and Braden Huff returns with the best hook shot in college hoops (assuming JT Toppin doesn’t play this season).—
CJ Moore
June 2,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
-
How data has helped root out discrimination The more imminent change, assuming the EEOC's proposals go forward, is the demise of the agency's annual collection of employee demographics.—
Andrea Hsu,
NPR,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Syrian authorities regularly boast of seizing weapons headed for Lebanon.—
Mick Krever,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
-
Still, seizing ships doesn’t seem like a very effective way to fill the Treasury’s coffers, and embracing freebooting carries risks besides financial ones.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Derek Shelton sat on the bench in the visitor’s dugout at PNC Park hours before Friday’s game and was greeted by a horde of local reporters standing in a semi-circle around him ready to take him down memory lane.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
29 May 2026
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With no Alcaraz and Sinner standing in his way, this was a real chance for the veteran to take the sole lead of top spot on the list of most singles’ grand slam titles, ending his tie with Margaret Court.—
Thomas Schlachter,
CNN Money,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
After consulting with its attorneys, the board conceded, accepting a settlement offer that would allow the data center to proceed with only minimal concessions from the firm.—
Andrew Cockburn,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
-
This time, lawmakers were scrambling over a stadium plan to keep the Chicago Bears from accepting an offer to move to Hammond, Indiana.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Cade Smith allowed a run in the ninth before converting his big league-leading 21st save and 18th in a row.—
CBS New York Team,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
-
The easy assembly makes converting it back to a regular sofa a breeze.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Parents are starting meal planning with the protein component first, then filling in the rest of the plate around it.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
4 June 2026
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Most obviously, with free-agent addition Alijah Vera-Tucker still sitting out after missing last season with a torn triceps, Andrew Rupcich was filling in at left guard.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Five or six men in dark trousers, with untucked shirts and loose jackets, hands in their pockets, shouldering off the wall and cutting slowly across the street, angling into the women’s path.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
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But shouldering a wobbly, expensive summer tentpole is a risk — just ask Sam Worthington or Taylor Kitsch.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taking over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taking%20over. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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