took on

Definition of took onnext
past tense of take on

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 on Holt, who took on the role of team president earlier this month, served as the president of the United Soccer League from 2009 to 2015. Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026 The special game was scheduled for March 16, when the Hawks took on the Orlando Magic in State Farm Arena. Irene Wright, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026 Back then, in the musical adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis‘ best-seller — with music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik and a book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa — Doctor Who star Matt Smith took on New York yuppie and increasingly maniacal investment banker Patrick Bateman. Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026 Ellis took on several pseudonyms over the years, including Three-Six, the Spirit, Big Dotti, and Terror Child. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 10 Mar. 2026 Faith took on new urgency during covid. Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2026 The actress met Bingham on the set of Yellowstone in 2020 when Harrison took on the role of Laramie. Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026 So Etess increasingly took on more roles at the resort. Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026 Cities took on the atmosphere of graveyards, and mourning black became the dominant color of daily life. Shahrnush Parsipur, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took on
Verb
  • In June 2025, he was finally charged with Lynn's attack and faced a life sentence for each of the additional crimes he was now charged with.
    Lauren Clark, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Steyer faced questions about his offshore investments before.
    Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Survivors, relatives and Cal-OSHA raised concerns about the conditions under which workers were employed, including allegations that some were paid in cash and received little to no safety training.
    Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Meta employed nearly 79,000 workers as of December, a 6% increase year-over-year.
    Emily Lorsch, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Daily payments for emergency help Three months earlier, in October, Jane had borrowed $50,000 through what's called a merchant cash advance, or MCA.
    Alina Selyukh, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Samples borrowed from German composer Max Richter.
    Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Nooshin Meshkaty, an Iranian American businessperson, said even though the government has tried to limit people for 47 years, it has always been met with resistance.
    Laurie Perez, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Heading into the season, however, the gamble was paying off — news of her casting was met with fan excitement and a preview of the season that aired after the Oscars drew more than 5 million viewers.
    Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Orr hired Campbell away from Oregon, where the coach’s mastery in recruiting helped boost the Ducks to national prominence.
    Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Ultra has hired off-duty fire rescue crews to patrol the event, utilizing emergency aid kits and scooters to navigate the crowds and get patients to an ambulance faster.
    Larry Seward, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The 14th Amendment − one of a trio of constitutional amendments adopted after the Civil War − overrode the Supreme Court’s infamous 1857 Dred Scott decision that African Americans could not be citizens.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
  • The directness with which the camera meets the eyes of the film’s subjects suggests compassion for their disfigurement and isolation (indeed, Farrokhzad adopted a boy from the colony), but there are no interviews.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • While heading for resupply before its next escort mission, the frigate encountered a minefield laid by Iran the night before, according to Cox.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
  • City officials said crews encountered unexpected conditions while removing aging infrastructure inside the pool, requiring additional time and specialized equipment.
    Faith Bugenhagen, Austin American Statesman, 21 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The nihilistic Duke is soon recruited by Nazi Germany to crash the British economy through the distribution of counterfeit currency and effectively decide World War II for the German Reich.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 Mar. 2026
  • The game will feature Yankees slugger and Northern California native Aaron Judge, who was recruited by the Giants as a free agent in 2022 before signing a nine-year, $360 million contract to stay with the Yankees.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Took on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20on. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.

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