TOOK ON Synonyms: 104 Similar and Opposite Words

took on

verb

Definition of took on next

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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Relevance

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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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 on The nearby business Pallet Rack KC also took on some water on part of its property. —

Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026 Matt Shaw of the Chicago Cubs took on a stunning amount of hate for attending the memorial service of his close friend, Charlie Kirk, following his assassination. —

Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026 Martinez’s freedom comes after attorneys with the Korey Wise Innocence Project, an organization within the University of Colorado Law School that provides free legal services to people who claim to be wrongfully convicted, took on his case about four years ago. —

Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026 International Literary Properties took on the role after entering into a strategic partnership with The University of the South in 2025. —

Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026 Jafaar Jackson, son of Jermaine Jackson, took on his first acting role to play his uncle, Michael Jackson, in the biopic. —

Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026 This work took on new significance following the tragic loss of the space shuttle Columbia crew in February 2003. —

Emily A. Margolis, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026 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 Ellis took on several pseudonyms over the years, including Three-Six, the Spirit, Big Dotti, and Terror Child. —

Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 10 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for took on

Verb

We are faced with a vastly more consequential version of a Catch-22.

— Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
However — and this is significant — Buffett faced some years with huge losses.

— Terry Savage, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026