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 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 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
  • Jackson faced several setbacks this season but proved her fitness during the 100-meter dash rounds the past two days.
    Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • This operation faced some challenges due to warmer weather and lower relative humidity.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • To conquer the competition, Flyjets has employed a two-prong strategy encompassing a marketplace and an exchange.
    Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • More than 19,000 people are employed by the bank in the Charlotte region, part of 213,000 workers across its company.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Parents saved, students borrowed, and the diploma became shorthand for employability.
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • By adding a new molecule— borrowed from skin care—to their Infiniment Coty Paris fragrance collection, perfumes achieve the unusually long wear time of 30 hours, something none of us or our industry judges have ever seen or smelled before.
    Megan McIntyre, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The software giant has repeatedly encountered shortages in AI computing, exacerbated by its obligations to supply OpenAI.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Thus, when two disheveled men barged into one camp on Sunday, the burners who encountered the thirsty strangers were understandably uneasy.
    Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Titan Protection Security was hired, but that didn’t bring the company much comfort since employees work in the building all hours of the day.
    PJ Green September 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Masino was hired at Cracker Barrel in 2023 after holding top positions at Taco Bell and Starbucks’ smaller international divisions and as CEO of Sprinkles Cupcakes.
    Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The British eventually adopted harsh measures to end the revolt.
    Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The team has started testing combinations specifically for B-EUV radiation, which is expected to be adopted in manufacturing within the next decade.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • As the Dodgers challenged the call, Melvin and assistant athletic trainer Ryo Watanabe met Smith near first base to assess Smith’s health.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Despite her controversial inclusion at the event, Melnikova’s performances were met with robust cheers from the Parisian crowd.
    Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The organizers recruited people for the tasks via the Telegram messaging app and paid them in cryptocurrency, the statement said.
    Reuters, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The case, part of an ongoing lawfare effort in which local governments have been recruited to serve as plaintiffs, sought to hold the companies liable for damages the island suffered as a result of Hurricane Maria, which struck Puerto Rico in 2017.
    David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 17 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 18 Sep. 2025.

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