Synonyms of took on

took on

verb

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

• faced
• met
• encountered
• engaged
• fought
• battled
• opposed
• contended
• emulated
• rivaled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• escaped
• evaded
• eluded
• retreated

2

as in employed

to provide with a paying job

decided to take her on as store manager

Synonyms & Similar Words

• employed
• hired
• recruited
• laid on
• signed (up or on)
• engaged
• paid
• placed
• retained
• enlisted
• assumed
• feed
• partnered
• reemployed
• kept (on)
• rehired
• apprenticed
• subcontracted
• promoted
• jobbed
• contracted
• reengaged
• upgraded
• scouted
• advanced
• headhunted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dismissed
• canned
• fired
• discharged
• laid off
• sacked
• axed
• locked out
• furloughed

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

• borrowed
• adopted
• embraced
• took up
• took over
• espoused
• cultivated
• picked up on
• followed
• assimilated
• used
• utilized
• incorporated
• copied
• appropriated
• imitated
• honored
• brought up
• quoted
• absorbed
• cherished
• naturalized
• put on
• usurped
• treasured
• domesticated
• affected
• prized
• raised
• heeded
• simulated
• fostered
• pretended
• arrogated
• assumed
• nurtured
• reared

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gave up
• abandoned
• relinquished
• surrendered
• forsook
• rejected
• disowned
• abjured
• renounced
• threw away
• spurned
• threw out
• repudiated
• discarded
• abnegated
• jettisoned
• junked

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of took on

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

Ament didn’t quite reach his offensive potential at Tennessee, but this is not dissimilar to the gamble the Bucks once took on a young Antetokounmpo. — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 24 June 2026

Influencer Gabriela Moura made her World Cup debut on Saturday as her home country of Brazil took on Morocco. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026