Synonyms of took over

took over

verb

past tense of take over

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

• substituted
• stood in
• stepped in
• filled in
• covered
• spelled
• subbed
• pinch-hit
• relieved
• doubled (as)
• understudied

2

as in accepted

to take to or upon oneself

took over the responsibility of caring for the animals

Synonyms & Similar Words

• accepted
• assumed
• shouldered
• undertook
• took up
• bore
• embraced
• adopted
• stood by
• endorsed
• advocated
• upheld
• championed
• backed
• acquiesced
• consented
• assented
• espoused
• acceded
• supported
• agreed
• reaccepted
• reassumed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• took back
• refused
• withdrew
• repudiated
• disclaimed
• disavowed
• disowned
• turned down
• retracted
• rejected
• renounced
• declined
• recanted
• abjured
• spurned
• refrained (from)
• abstained (from)
• avoided
• gave up
• abandoned
• bypassed
• relinquished
• forbore
• surrendered
• detoured
• unsaid
• backed off
• forsook
• backed down
• backtracked
• abnegated

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

• seized
• grabbed
• confiscated
• converted
• occupied
• stole
• claimed
• usurped
• appropriated
• commandeered
• assumed
• preempted
• annexed
• pirated
• invaded
• snatched
• pressed
• expropriated
• arrogated
• attached
• looted
• impounded
• repossessed
• grasped
• sequestered
• preoccupied
• encroached
• infringed
• wrenched
• despoiled
• collared
• peculated
• pillaged
• embezzled
• misused
• misapplied
• trespassed
• wrested
• misappropriated

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of took over

According to a 2005 biography, Tung was born in Shanghai on May 29, 1937, and his family moved to Hong Kong in 1947 — two years before the Communists took over the mainland. — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Fresh Leadership Vaughn, who took over as chief of Genesco in 2020, recalled that Journeys emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic in good shape, but that the consumer landscape had changed drastically, triggering the need for a different approach. — Jennie Bell, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026

Boy George took over his duties that year, and Jones returned for the following season. — Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2026

In Odessa, Texas, Ector College Prep’s TEA Accountability score has risen from a 58 to an 86 since Third Future took over. — Samuel O’Neal 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2026

Conversations began months ago, after Jolly took over as the Angels’ president and replaced longtime executive and ally John Carpino in April. — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Somewhere along the line, mobility and strength took over to preserve pitchers’ bodies and keep their arms strong. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026

When Marilyn Bartlett took over Montana’s state employee health plan in 2014, the plan’s reserves were nearly depleted. — Bob Herman, STAT, 18 Aug. 2026

Mourinho was hired in June and officially took over in July at the start of the preseason. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026