1
as in held
to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms
take my hand, or we'll get separated in this crowd
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in had
to agree to receive whether willingly or reluctantly
will you take that call? took a cut in pay
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in got
to become affected with (a disease or disorder)
if you don't cover your head in this weather, you'll take cold and be stuck inside all weekend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in chose
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities
you can take the white side this time, since I got to be white for our last chess game
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in bought
to get possession of (something) by giving money in exchange for
I'll take two cheeseburgers to go, please
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in needed
to have as a requirement
it will take a lot of courage to stand up for what is right
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
8
9
as in stood
to put up with (something painful or difficult)
I can't take anymore of your whining about your former boyfriend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in believed
to regard as right or true
I think we can take his word for it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in defeated
to achieve a victory over
I know we can take that team
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
12
as in managed
to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently
let's take each problem separately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
13
as in received
to offer entrance (as to a place, school, or privilege) to
the school takes only a small percentage of the thousands of applicants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
14
as in killed
to deprive of life
I never thought heart disease would take such an athletic and health-conscious person
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 took
Döpfner nearly bought the FT in 2015, before losing it to Nikkei, and took a controlling stake in Business Insider — at the top of the new media market — for $343 million.
—
Max Tani, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
With the win, Southern Miss (7-2, 5-0) took sole possession of first place in the Sun Belt Conference West Division standings.
—Michael Harley, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
At the airport in Tapachula, the deportees boarded white passenger buses that took them to the parking lot of the city's Olympic soccer stadium.
—Daniel Gonzalez, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
The Bills, 12 spots later, took Rousseau, who has 28 sacks and is rated the 10th-best edge player in the league this season, per PFF.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
Things took a drastic turn for his look not too long after.
—Kansas City Star, 9 Nov. 2025
The film also took home the Artistic Achievement Award for Best Cinematography for DoP Giorgos Karvelas.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 9 Nov. 2025
And last week the Supreme Court took the rare step of asking for additional briefing in that high-profile case.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
The Terps started 4-0, took the last week of September off and have now lost their past four games.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Max Tani, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
With the win, Southern Miss (7-2, 5-0) took sole possession of first place in the Sun Belt Conference West Division standings.
—Michael Harley, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
At the airport in Tapachula, the deportees boarded white passenger buses that took them to the parking lot of the city's Olympic soccer stadium.
—Daniel Gonzalez, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
The Bills, 12 spots later, took Rousseau, who has 28 sacks and is rated the 10th-best edge player in the league this season, per PFF.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
Things took a drastic turn for his look not too long after.
—Kansas City Star, 9 Nov. 2025
The film also took home the Artistic Achievement Award for Best Cinematography for DoP Giorgos Karvelas.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 9 Nov. 2025
And last week the Supreme Court took the rare step of asking for additional briefing in that high-profile case.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
The Terps started 4-0, took the last week of September off and have now lost their past four games.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took
Verb
-
The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Ewing never married or had children, but is survived by other family members, per Extra.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The news and editorial staffs of the Orange County Register had no role in this post’s preparation.—
MemorialCare Medical Group,
Oc Register,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
By 1996, Joe broke through in commercial work and got into television.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Multiple King of Fire, which got its start as a food truck and expanded to a permanent space in uptown Charlotte, plans to open a 3,484-square-foot space at CrossRidge Center across the border in Indian Land, South Carolina.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
If your garden experiences frost heaving, firm the soil around the cuttings as needed.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
All new bookings will require guests to be aged 18 years or older, in a departure from Oceania’s previous policy, which accommodated passengers as young as six months on certain sailings.—
Paul Brady,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Adding an additional four teams could be accommodated as soon as the 2026 season.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Dumas has worked for Valero for four years but just moved to the Benicia location from Arizona a year ago, just a few months before the energy company announced a possible plan to cease or idle operations.—
Amanda Hari,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Steve Sarkisian worked for Saban twice at Alabama.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Team Russia and Kamila Valieva, who was 15 at the time, stood above them with their gold medals.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
-
His tragic death took away valuable time with his grandchildren, but what John stood for will stand for generations to come.—
Andrea Nakano,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At the time, the FBI said the hackers responsible belonged to criminal group Darkside, believed to be based in Russia.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The percentage tells the public how much of the fire perimeter is believed to not go beyond the control lines.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Took.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share