1
2
as in employed
to provide with a paying job
decided to take her on as store manager
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
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
Back then, in the musical adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis‘ best-seller — with music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik and a book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa — Doctor Who star Matt Smith took on New York yuppie and increasingly maniacal investment banker Patrick Bateman.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 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
Faith took on new urgency during covid.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2026
The actress met Bingham on the set of Yellowstone in 2020 when Harrison took on the role of Laramie.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026
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
Back then, in the musical adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis‘ best-seller — with music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik and a book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa — Doctor Who star Matt Smith took on New York yuppie and increasingly maniacal investment banker Patrick Bateman.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 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
Faith took on new urgency during covid.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2026
The actress met Bingham on the set of Yellowstone in 2020 when Harrison took on the role of Laramie.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 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
-
This week, the city met with the organizers of the teen takeovers.—
Terell Bailey,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Iran’s negotiating team, chaired by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and includes Foreign Minister Abbas Arghchi, met late Friday with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
To gain access, the hackers pose as recruiters seeking contractors for those companies and therefore possess their credentials (which the scammers can obtain with Omnistealer), or as freelance developers seeking to be hired themselves.—
Jessica Klein,
PC Magazine,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The San Francisco Chronicle published the account of a woman, who remains anonymous, who says she was hired at the age of 21 to work as an intern in Swalwell's district office.—
Diana Paulsen,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In New Zealand, a ban was adopted in 2022 but repealed in 2024.—
Marie Helweg-Larsen,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2026
-
As currently written, the task force’s recommendations will have to be adopted by supervisors via an ordinance, leaving the door open for current and future supervisors to exert influence over the ethics commission’s budget, staff and authority.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Outrage quickly ensued as Angelenos encountered both technical difficulties and sky-high prices for even non-marquee events, with many lower-bowl seats going for multiple hundreds of dollars and in some cases, thousands.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Environmental authorities in Colombia say the mammals pose a threat to villagers who have encountered them in farms and rivers.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In New Orleans, one of the earliest slammers was a jovial fellow named Damian Labeaud, who, starting in 2010, recruited passengers from the local community with the promise of insurance payouts, then took them hunting on the freeway for a truck.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
In the film, middle school teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) is recruited to help save Earth because of his history as a cell biologist with some iconoclastic ideas about life in the universe.—
Tara Haelle,
NPR,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Took on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20on. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
