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 Colin Hanks did the vast majority of the interviews, but Reynolds took on Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025 The University of Cincinnati Bearcats, where Kelce played during his college career, took on the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Angel Saunders, People.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took on
Verb
  • Tennessee faced a third-and-10 at their own 35-yard line, and the crowd at Empower Field was at a fever pitch.
    Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Democrats faced a fair amount of criticism from their ranks over going along with keeping the government open back in the spring.
    ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This comes one day after the BLS said there were nearly 1 million fewer people employed for the year ended in March than previously reported as part of the agency’s annual revisions.
    Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Russian and Ukrainian drones both routinely go off course due to electronic warfare measures employed by both sides.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Home to more than 1,200 stores, the Dubai Mall is so big that complimentary electric buggies ferry shoppers around and free phone batteries can be borrowed in case visitors run out of power on a day trip there.
    Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Nearly every part of the couple's wedding was borrowed or gifted with love.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Lorain Police, while doing proactive patrolling in the area, encountered a man and exchanged gunfire with him at the dead end of River Bend Drive, Elyria Police Chief James Welsh told reporters at the time.
    Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Off the coast of Monterey Bay, California, researchers encountered several unusual creatures in the deep, cold water.
    Lauren Liebhaber September 8, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In the film — her first since portraying opera diva Maria Callas in last year’s Maria — the Oscar winner, 50, stars as Maxine, an American film director hired to make a video for a Paris fashion event amid being diagnosed with breast cancer and navigating a divorce.
    Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Yet, the defense was a reflection of what new coordinator Al Golden promised and has spoken about at every opportunity possible since he was hired.
    Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But only a small percentage of people who used The Browser Company’s Arc adopted the program’s special features.
    Jordan Novet, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The pair have since married and adopted twin children.
    Mikelle Street, Them., 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Hopes were raised for a rapprochement between Harry and his father in July when aides of Harry and the King met for the first time in London.
    Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Garcia’s signing was met with total consensus across the club, and Flick was one of the biggest advocates for Rashford’s move to Barca.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Poquianchis recruited young girls from nearby towns and farms, deceiving families with false promises of work or abducting girls when alone.
    Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
  • His commitment to staying clean has always impressed Jimmy Fallon, who once headlined his own Clean Cut Comedy Tour before taking over The Tonight Show, and recruited Bargatze to join him.
    Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 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 11 Sep. 2025.

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