1
2
as in employed
to provide with a paying job
decided to take her on as store manager
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of took on
Taking advantage of the best day of weather this spring, Hughes took on a starring role again, going 1-for-3 with three RBIs for the Warriors in a 4-3 nonconference victory at Geneva.
—
Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 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
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
Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took on
Verb
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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
-
The officer is no longer employed by Baltimore Police Department and the individual no longer lives in Maryland, Bradford said.—
Chevall Pryce,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Apr. 2026
-
More than 70 percent of the 45 million workers directly employed by India’s garment and textile industry—its second-largest employer after agriculture—are women.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The amount borrowed could be adjusted to coordinate with other proposals to help address the solvency gap, Kaine said.—
Lorie Konish,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
-
According to the study, 40% of medical students borrowed more than $50,000 in a single year, while 14% had lifetime federal debt of more than $200,000.—
Suzanne King,
Kansas City Star,
31 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
-
By trapping and levitating phonons in a vacuum with an optical tweezer, the researchers demonstrated the technology with the device, but also encountered noise issues.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Officers encountered large groups of juveniles downtown on Sunday and responded to multiple fights, officials said.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Patreon has recruited Substack talent by dangling sweeteners like revenue guarantees.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The North Star is depicted with five points, to represent the five members of Hansen's immediate family (him, his wife and three children) as well as the state of Texas, where Hansen and his family have been living since he was recruited as a CSA astronaut in 2009.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Took on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20on. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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