took on

past tense of take on
1
as in faced
to enter into contest or conflict with will take on his chief opponent in the next political debate

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
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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 concept dates back centuries but took on a new life in the twentieth, when Russian theosophist couple Nicholas and Helena Roerich led an expedition in the 1920s to find Shambhala in the Altai Mountains. Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 24 Oct. 2025 After his passing, Mango’s chief executive officer Roni Ruiz took on the role of chairman of the board. Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025 Sauk County in 2025 took on the responsiblity for and covered some operational tasks that UW-Platteville had previously covered, such as snow-shoveling and lawn-mowing. Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025 For television, Eggar starred opposite Yul Brynner in a 1972 CBS adaptation of The King and I and took on the role of the manipulative Phyllis Dietrichson, famously played by Barbara Stanwyck on the big screen, in a 1973 ABC remake of Double Indemnity. Chris Koseluk, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025 This is how an international football fixture already meaningful on the pitch for Norway took on a geopolitical significance. Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025 As the brand grew, however, Laine emerged as the company's director of guides, while her husband took on the position of director of programming. Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025 Wizards of Waverly Place star David Henrie took on the role of Ted and Tracy's son, Luke. Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025 Hilleary took on the House chief of staff role years after his own time in office ended. David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took on
Verb
  • The president and his party have faced three corruption scandals this year, while Argentina’s slowing economy and frustration with high unemployment rates helped push Milei’s approval to the lowest level of his term ahead of the vote.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Waupun Correctional Institution has also faced a series of deaths among those incarcerated there in recent years and is now under investigation by federal officials over how drugs and contraband were smuggled inside.
    Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • This can likely be traced back to Gian Piero Gasperini’s arrival in Serie A with Genoa in 2007, using a back-three system to counteract the prevailing, narrow 4-3-1-2 shape that was commonly employed in Italy.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • The report also notes European Social Surveys – tracking public attitudes, beliefs and behavior – which show that there is a 25% chance unemployed people at the lowest levels of jobless benefits will vote for the far right versus 15% for those who are employed.
    Ana Nicolaci da Costa, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The name, borrowed from the post-apocalyptic movie series, immediately drew attention for its bold tone.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Dressing accordingly for the theme, Harry borrowed his friend Tom Hardy’s Mad Max costume while Meghan sported a camo tank with torn black shorts and fishnet stockings.
    Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • According to federal sources, Singh was first encountered by Border Patrol agents in California’s El Centro Sector in March 2022 and released into the interior pending an immigration hearing.
    Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The storm’s intensity has made these flights especially dangerous, as crews have encountered severe turbulence within the hurricane’s eyewall.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In 1873 twenty-two-year-old Edward Walter Maunder was hired as the spectroscopic assistant for this program.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Woodward was the one who hired Fisher at Texas A&M.
    Chris Vannini, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The 4-2-3-1 formation has been one of the most prominent systems used across Europe since the turn of the century, adopted by some of the best tacticians in modern football.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • In keeping with the change in temperatures and tones this season, Kristen Stewart has now adopted a new look.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Trump met Milei at the White House two weeks ago, and the Argentine has emerged as one of the US leader’s most ardent supporters abroad.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and top trade negotiator Li Chenggang on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur for a fifth round of in-person discussions since May.
    Xinghui Kok, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Each of us could be recruited tomorrow and offered more money elsewhere.
    Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The researchers recruited 28 female veterans aged 32 to 72, all of whom had been diagnosed with PTSD.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2025

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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 Oct. 2025.

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