1
as in substituted
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 accepted
to take to or upon oneself
took over the responsibility of caring for the animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in seized
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
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 over
Gaugh left in 2011 and then rejoined in 2023 when Jakob Nowell took over as lead singer following the winding-down of Sublime with Rome in 2024.
—
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 26 Mar. 2026
To her, things really improved only when MacPherson and his partners took over the space and gave it a neo-bohemian lift.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 26 Mar. 2026
Instead of performing from the late-night show’s studio, BTS took over New York City’s Guggenheim Museum to showcase the track, which comes off their new LP, Arirang.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2026
The two hundred and fifty people in residence at Bellevue would be transferred to other shelters this month, and men’s intake would move to a shelter on East Third Street—the same site where it was situated decades ago, before Bellevue took over.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Hartono brothers took over Como in 2019, when the team was playing in Italy’s fourth division.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
The second half was more of the same as Colorado’s physicality took over.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
The sellout streak was 117 games entering the 2025-26 season, and season-ticket revenue rose 227% since Dundon took over.
—Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 5 Mar. 2026
His goals are similar to that of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who took over Wrexham AFC in 2021.
—Ryan Brennan
march 5, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2026
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 26 Mar. 2026
To her, things really improved only when MacPherson and his partners took over the space and gave it a neo-bohemian lift.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 26 Mar. 2026
Instead of performing from the late-night show’s studio, BTS took over New York City’s Guggenheim Museum to showcase the track, which comes off their new LP, Arirang.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2026
The two hundred and fifty people in residence at Bellevue would be transferred to other shelters this month, and men’s intake would move to a shelter on East Third Street—the same site where it was situated decades ago, before Bellevue took over.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Hartono brothers took over Como in 2019, when the team was playing in Italy’s fourth division.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
The second half was more of the same as Colorado’s physicality took over.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
The sellout streak was 117 games entering the 2025-26 season, and season-ticket revenue rose 227% since Dundon took over.
—Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 5 Mar. 2026
His goals are similar to that of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who took over Wrexham AFC in 2021.
—Ryan Brennan
march 5, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took over
Verb
-
Thousands of Villa fans, who had watched their team get trounced 8-0 at Chelsea three days before, delayed their early exits from the ground just to applaud Bale off the pitch when he was substituted in the 85th minute.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Prizes may not be substituted for or redeemed for cash.—
CBS LA Staff,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When the train stopped for three hours outside Guiyang, the backpacker finally admitted defeat and accepted a cigarette.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Those who are accepted go through a 10-week training academy, which Leonas helps instruct.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The department shared photos of what their officers seized, which included a gun and a baby bottle authorities say was filled with the drug mixture known as lean.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
In March, Hungarian counterterrorism authorities seized two trucks, owned by a Ukrainian bank, that were passing through the country on a routine cash-transport run from Vienna.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In February, Cooper stood in the same spot at Sheriff’s Office headquarters to rail against the parole board’s decision to grant Funston’s release.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
25 Mar. 2026
-
One of the longest security waits on Tuesday was at Bush International Airport in Houston, where travelers stood in a line stretching from the airport subway to the security check-in gates, according to ABC Houston station KTRK.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Many shots audiences assumed were digital were actually practical effects using Jay’s wheelchair design.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
-
This all assumed that radiation, matter, and curvature were the only allowable components to the Universe.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The prosecutor said Abril confronted the couple, at which point James MacEgan was shot and killed, before Abril grabbed MacEgan’s wife and pulled her into the creek.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Scheierman also hit two earlier threes, grabbed five rebounds and pestered Gilgeous-Alexander to force a third-quarter turnover to help Boston take down the defending NBA champions 119-109.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Following his successful year, Ryan Castro has now stepped in as a creative director for Agua Bendita, fully co-creating and shaping everything from the design to the campaign.—
Ingrid Fajardo,
Billboard,
26 Mar. 2026
-
As spring break crowds and South by Southwest Conference and Festival travelers packed security lines at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport this week, a local burger chain stepped in with a gesture aimed at the workers keeping the system moving.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The jury said Meta shouldered 70% of the responsibility while YouTube bore the remaining 30%.—
Kaitlyn Huamani,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Salim lets him, following paces behind, slump-shouldered.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Took over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20over. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
