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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

The group has faced criticism over its stances on various issues, including the wars in Gaza and Iran.

— Saige Miller, NPR, 22 Oct. 2026
Jasarevic told Semafor that WHO’s $115 million budget for Ebola was 80% funded, while Fleur Vernat, UNICEF’s partnerships manager in DR Congo, said her agency’s response faced a 65% funding gap.

— Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of faced

Verb

The base employed around 1,300 military and civilian personnel, including roughly 1,070 military members, according to October 2025 figures published by the Town of Wainwright.

— Rebecca Schneid, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
And later, during the Art Deco era, design juggernauts such as Eileen Gray and Jean Dunand employed the finish in some of their most famous works.

— Helena Madden, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of employed

Verb

Torani had borrowed a lot of money to build the new factory, and the pandemic brought new financial uncertainty.

— Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
That year, Love borrowed nearly $150,000 from Foster Friends with zero interest, the tax filing and Love’s state economic disclosure forms show.

— Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of borrowed

Verb

The case originates from a change in admissions policy that began a decade ago, when a consulting group was hired to evaluate how the school system chose students for its middle school magnet programs.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
Determined to fortify his body for another long season, Reaves hired former Lakers head strength and conditioning coach Ed Streit to work with him.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of hired

Verb

The MacBook screens have always been top-notch, meeting P3 color-gamut standards despite being IPS panels, and some have adopted additional features like True Tone ambient color adjustment.

— Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
How fast the benefits of a truly life-changing technology flow through the economy is the actual measure of how fast it is being adopted.

— Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of adopted

Verb

Volunteers encountered them individually and in combinations, including beer with cake and coffee with orange.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
Working with other artists offers opportunities to exchange creative ideas, develop different sounds, and reach listeners who may not have previously encountered an artist’s music.

— Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of encountered

Verb

With the Mavericks, there is a coach, in Dusty May, who at one time recruited him collegiately, and a team willing to grow with their young players.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Lee recruited a friend to help move the box to her bedroom, but the setup itself took less than 10 minutes.

— Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026