Synonyms of took over

took over

verb

past tense of take over

1

as in substituted

to serve as a replacement usually for a time only

I'll take over for her until she gets back from her morning break

Synonyms & Similar Words

• substituted
• stood in
• stepped in
• filled in
• covered
• spelled
• subbed
• pinch-hit
• relieved
• doubled (as)
• understudied

2

as in accepted

to take to or upon oneself

took over the responsibility of caring for the animals

Synonyms & Similar Words

• accepted
• assumed
• shouldered
• undertook
• took up
• bore
• embraced
• adopted
• stood by
• endorsed
• advocated
• upheld
• championed
• backed
• acquiesced
• consented
• assented
• espoused
• acceded
• supported
• agreed
• reaccepted
• reassumed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• took back
• refused
• withdrew
• repudiated
• disclaimed
• disavowed
• disowned
• turned down
• retracted
• rejected
• renounced
• declined
• recanted
• abjured
• spurned
• refrained (from)
• abstained (from)
• avoided
• gave up
• abandoned
• bypassed
• relinquished
• forbore
• surrendered
• detoured
• unsaid
• backed off
• forsook
• backed down
• backtracked
• abnegated

3

as in seized

to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right

students protesting the war took over the college's radio station

Synonyms & Similar Words

• seized
• grabbed
• confiscated
• converted
• occupied
• stole
• claimed
• usurped
• appropriated
• commandeered
• assumed
• preempted
• annexed
• pirated
• invaded
• snatched
• pressed
• expropriated
• arrogated
• attached
• looted
• impounded
• repossessed
• grasped
• sequestered
• preoccupied
• encroached
• infringed
• wrenched
• despoiled
• collared
• peculated
• pillaged
• embezzled
• misused
• misapplied
• trespassed
• wrested
• misappropriated

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of took over

Manuel took over for Dave Brandon, a Domino’s Pizza executive who alienated a lot of Michigan fans with his slick marketing schemes. — Austin Meek, New York Times, 21 July 2026

Northrop’s SpaceLogistics division took over the commercial portion of the program the following year and completed development of the spacecraft. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026

Wes Streeting, whose resignation as health secretary in May helped topple Starmer, took over the defense portfolio. — ABC News, 21 July 2026

Novella took over the Garden House space after owner Jordan Fox decided to step back. — Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026

When Rogers, the first Black woman to serve as the White House’s social secretary, was fired from her role, Burnough took over in the interim. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026

Detectives with the Lincoln Police Department and a crime scene investigator took over the investigation, with assistance from investigators from the Placer County District Attorney’s Office. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026

The Coast Guard took over operations of the nation’s lighthouses in 1939, and by the early 1990s, most were automated. — Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

Boston is also now 31-31 since Tracy took over as interim manager, and with Baltimore’s 5-2 loss to the Cubs, the Red Sox have moved out of last place for the first time since May 23. — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 7 July 2026