TOOK ON Synonyms: 104 Similar and Opposite Words

took on

verb

past tense of take on

as in faced

to enter into contest or conflict with will take on his chief opponent in the next political debate

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in employed

to provide with a paying job decided to take her on as store manager

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in borrowed

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

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Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of took on In making the deals, the Twins uncharacteristically took on payroll, paying the entirety of the roughly $5 million combined owed to Minter and Kremer. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 Yungblud easily took on the song’s euphoric verses as Corgan accompanied on guitar, both clad in all-black, from the four-time-platinum LP. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 1 Aug. 2026 Jefferson took on the role of writing the first draft of the declaration. — Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026 Ament didn’t quite reach his offensive potential at Tennessee, but this is not dissimilar to the gamble the Bucks once took on a young Antetokounmpo. — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 24 June 2026 The pictures Cooley took on Ragusa’s property were of rows of pink and purple native flowers and sunflowers set amid city lights and a dreamy sunset. — Marah Eakin, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026 Influencer Gabriela Moura made her World Cup debut on Saturday as her home country of Brazil took on Morocco. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026 The grand property later took on a radically different role as the state-of-the-art St George's Hospital, rebuilt in 1825 by architect William Wilkins, the mind behind London’s National Gallery. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 June 2026 As heir to the throne, Elizabeth ultimately took on a role she wasn't born for. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for took on

Verb

In September 2024, state economists attributed the drop in play to a decline in scratch-off sales as consumers faced inflationary pressures coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic period, which saw a spike in Lottery purchases.

— Jim Turner, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
The policy decision arrived as oil prices surged and stock prices tumbled in response to a resumption of fighting in the Middle East, underscoring the challenge faced by central bankers tasked with containing price increases.

— Max Zahn, ABC News, 29 July 2026

Definition of faced

Verb

Now, researchers at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have borrowed a trick from bridge engineering to keep these ocean giants standing.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 July 2026
Executives may mistake the absence of obvious consequences for proof that their system is working, when in fact, today’s performance is often borrowed from tomorrow’s decline.

— Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of borrowed

Verb

Both men sat in opposite corners afterward before Reigns walked to the center and offered a fist, and Rollins met it.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Last August, the International Association of Genocide Scholars passed a resolution declaring that Israel’s actions met the legal definition of genocide.

— Arielle Kaden, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of met

Verb

The city of Detroit has hired a senior director of retail attraction to bring national and regional chains into the city.

— Washington Post, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2026
Christian Bale is the only actor on this list who was hired, fired, and rehired before filming began.

— Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of hired

Verb

Forty-seven institutions have now adopted formal policies of institutional neutrality modeled after the University of Chicago's Kalven Report.

— Scott White, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
The Judicial Council recently adopted the reporting requirement and is developing a public dashboard expected to launch next month.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of adopted

Verb

The government leases only 48,000 square feet and 29 parking spots in the 350,000-square-foot property, and the lease does not extend to the place where prosecutors say Morrow and Stanley encountered officers, the defense attorneys maintain.

— Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026
Officers arrived and encountered the boy with his mother before he was taken to the Bimini Community Clinic for medical attention, authorities said.

— Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026

Definition of encountered

Verb

Bishop recalled being doubted as a quarterback and recruited to play another position.

— Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 30 July 2026
The smugglers sometimes recruited their clients into the network to pay off their costs, prosecutors said, or persuaded them to make testimonial videos for prospective border crossers.

— Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 29 July 2026