took on

Definition of took onnext
past tense of take on

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 Matt Shaw of the Chicago Cubs took on a stunning amount of hate for attending the memorial service of his close friend, Charlie Kirk, following his assassination. Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026 Martinez’s freedom comes after attorneys with the Korey Wise Innocence Project, an organization within the University of Colorado Law School that provides free legal services to people who claim to be wrongfully convicted, took on his case about four years ago. Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026 International Literary Properties took on the role after entering into a strategic partnership with The University of the South in 2025. Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026 Jafaar Jackson, son of Jermaine Jackson, took on his first acting role to play his uncle, Michael Jackson, in the biopic. Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026 This work took on new significance following the tragic loss of the space shuttle Columbia crew in February 2003. Emily A. Margolis, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026 Holt, who took on the role of team president earlier this month, served as the president of the United Soccer League from 2009 to 2015. Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026 The special game was scheduled for March 16, when the Hawks took on the Orlando Magic in State Farm Arena. Irene Wright, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026 Ellis took on several pseudonyms over the years, including Three-Six, the Spirit, Big Dotti, and Terror Child. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took on
Verb
  • That moment, over a quarter of a century in the making, came in December 2025 when Tiffani McInnis—flanked by supporters—faced her mother's killer in a courtroom.
    Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
  • During its high-stakes re-entry through Earth’s atmosphere, the Orion capsule faced extreme temperatures nearing 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
    Denise Chow, NBC news, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The Hornets’ starting lineup also boasts the highest offensive rating among all starting lineups, per the NBA’s advanced stats — and that group, in fact, has the highest offensive rating of all lineups employed across the NBA that have logged at least 172 minutes together.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Witzburg, who is set to leave office later this month as her term expires, declined to identify the staffer or the mayoral administration that employed them.
    Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The story is Jimmy Page borrowed money from his parents to get these pressed.
    Steve Metsch, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Osier said patrons at his library borrowed 6,683 items from other libraries in 2025, about twice the number of books patrons from other towns borrowed from Willington.
    Nicole Caruso, Hartford Courant, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The Flyers and Penguins last met in the playoffs in 2018, with Pittsburgh winning the series 4-2.
    Mike Darnay, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
  • The army takeover was met with massive nonviolent resistance, which has since become a civil war.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Athena's parents, Jacob Strand and Maitlyn Gandy, then filed a lawsuit against Horner and the contractor who hired him, per NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth.
    Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
  • But evidence is mounting that applicants with questionable histories were either not fully vetted before they were brought on or were hired in spite of their past, an investigation by The Associated Press found.
    Ryan J. Foley, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Baseball already has adopted three-game-series, with the possibility of Saturday doubleheaders in regional play.
    Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Some gravitate toward the traditional Latin Mass, while others lean toward the Novus Ordo, the format for Mass widely adopted after Vatican II.
    Emma Green, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • This project encountered several delays, and POSCO dropped it a few years ago due to difficulties in acquiring land, according to a Reuters report.
    Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
  • And yes, any one person who does it might not be encountered often, but the older person may encounter it multiple times (from different people) in the same week.
    R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Director Nick Castle’s 1984 sci-fi adventure of a trailer park kid recruited to join an interstellar war against Xur and the ruthless Ko-Dan Armada is still a fantastic flick over 40 years after its original theatrical release.
    Jeff Spry, Space.com, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Combs had been one of two portfolio managers recruited by Warren Buffett to help oversee the conglomerate’s equity holdings.
    Yun Li, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Took on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20on. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.

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