TOOK ON Synonyms: 104 Similar and Opposite Words

took on

verb

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in employed

to provide with a paying job decided to take her on as store manager

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Eight months into their existence, Coniglio took on two new investors, Andrew Rosen and Stacey Bendet, founder of Alice + Olivia. — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026 The property took on its current name in the 1980s, with subsequent renovations adding the 10th floor, home to the Presidential Suite and spa. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026 In his early films, Greene observed individuals who took on different, sometimes contradictory roles in their lives. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2026 The star of ‘Ripley’ and ‘All of Us Strangers’ star steps up in a performance of emotional depth as Ian Charleson, the Scottish actor who took on Hamlet at the end of his life. — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026 As Kierny admonished both sides to follow the court’s rules, Davis took on prosecutor Michael DiGiacomo directly. — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026 In making the deals, the Twins uncharacteristically took on payroll, paying the entirety of the roughly $5 million combined owed to Minter and Kremer. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 Yungblud easily took on the song’s euphoric verses as Corgan accompanied on guitar, both clad in all-black, from the four-time-platinum LP. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 1 Aug. 2026 Jefferson took on the role of writing the first draft of the declaration. — Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for took on

Verb

In the years since his cancer diagnosis, King Charles has faced even more devastating health news.

— Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 14 Oct. 2026
Commercial flights are still operating in Saudi Arabia, though service has faced major disruptions at times.

— Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of faced

Verb

In January 2025, the federal government employed more than 3 million people.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Asked about the most difficult decision of her career, Lewin pointed to the closure of ILM’s Singapore studio, which ILM announced in August 2023 and which employed more than 300 people.

— Callum McLennan, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of employed

Verb

Anning co-founder and CEO Sophie Broun believes that methods borrowed from the oil and gas industry could unlock this energy source.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 18 Oct. 2026
But these companies are just two of the dozens that have borrowed billions of dollars at high interest rates to expand at a breakneck pace.

— Steve Kopack, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of borrowed

Verb

In Oxford, Archer met Mary Weeden, a chemistry student who became his wife in 1966.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 17 Oct. 2026
Fewer than half of students met or exceeded state standards in English language arts and math, and many Sacramento-area schools were no exception.

— Chaewon Chung October 17, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of met

Verb

Alejandro Diaz, whom Xuan hired as an eviction manager for his real estate firm, accused Xuan of trying to break down a tenant’s door in Apple Valley and using a Taser to shock another renter’s dog, according to the civil suit.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
By July, the side project turned into a full-time job when MLB hired Weingardt as a principal product manager to explore changes to its flagship app.

— Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of hired

Verb

But using dogs to investigate crimes wasn’t widely adopted until the mid ‘80s, Gould said.

— Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Luna was a stray for her first year before she was found by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and adopted.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of adopted

Verb

Conditions such as weather, food availability and habitat quality encountered during migration can determine whether an individual survives to breed again.

— Amy L. Scarpignato, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, shoppers who rely on digital coupons have encountered problems accessing their usual discounts.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of encountered

Verb

The canvas also included the logos of the Springfield Wildcats, Bel’s high-school soccer team, and the Wittenberg Tigers, the team of Wittenberg University, a private college that had recruited Bel to play.

— Edwidge Danticat, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2026
This reboot, directed by Kitao Sakurai and starring Noah Centineo and Andrew Koji, takes place in 1993 as two estranged fighters are recruited to enter a tournament that forces them to face off against each other.

— Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026