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
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
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
-
In the third inning Rocker was faced with runners on the corners with Spencer Steer up to bat with two outs, and Rocker retired the left fielder in three pitches, ending with a ground out to third base to escape the inning with no damage.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Apr. 2026
-
First-year manager Kurt Suzuki said the pitchers the Angels have faced are part of the issue.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
She’s employed at West Virginia’s federally funded Head Start program for low-income children and her husband is a postal worker.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
But the department's Federal Student Aid Handbook does not include that restriction for students employed by schools for on-campus work.—
Hansi Lo Wang,
NPR,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His rhetoric has helped sustain one of the fastest cash burns of any startup in history, relying on partners that have borrowed vast sums.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Every dollar that the government spends is first taxed or borrowed from the private sector.—
Wayne Winegarden,
Oc Register,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This week, the city met with the organizers of the teen takeovers.—
Terell Bailey,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Iran’s negotiating team, chaired by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and includes Foreign Minister Abbas Arghchi, met late Friday with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
To gain access, the hackers pose as recruiters seeking contractors for those companies and therefore possess their credentials (which the scammers can obtain with Omnistealer), or as freelance developers seeking to be hired themselves.—
Jessica Klein,
PC Magazine,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The San Francisco Chronicle published the account of a woman, who remains anonymous, who says she was hired at the age of 21 to work as an intern in Swalwell's district office.—
Diana Paulsen,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In New Zealand, a ban was adopted in 2022 but repealed in 2024.—
Marie Helweg-Larsen,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2026
-
As currently written, the task force’s recommendations will have to be adopted by supervisors via an ordinance, leaving the door open for current and future supervisors to exert influence over the ethics commission’s budget, staff and authority.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Richard Funk was unlike many of the other fraternity boys Welsh had encountered.—
Patrick Salland,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The problems Lacy and Rogers encountered in their graduate program are exactly the kinds of issues the update to Title II of the ADA aims to fix.—
Jonaki Mehta,
NPR,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Dintaman and Nolan then recruited Johnson to pose as the victim in person at the state's Department of Treasury's Unclaimed Property Office to get a second copy of the check.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Hamm talked about playing football in high school and being recruited by three colleges.—
Richard Johnson,
New York Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Took on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20on. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
