v., took (tʊk), tak·en (tā'kən), tak·ing, takes.

v.tr.

1. To get into one's possession by force, skill, or artifice, especially:
   1. To capture physically; seize: take an enemy fortress.
   2. To seize with authority; confiscate.
   3. To kill, snare, or trap (fish or game, for example).
   4. Sports & Games. To acquire in a game or competition; win: took the crown in horseracing.
   5. Sports & Games. To defeat: Our team took the visitors three to one.
   6. Sports. To catch (a ball in play), especially in baseball: The player took it on the fly.
2. To grasp with the hands; grip: Take your partner's hand.
3. To encounter or catch in a particular situation; come upon; discover: Your actions took me by surprise.
4. To deal a blow to; strike or hit: The boxer took his opponent a sharp jab to the ribs.
5. To affect favorably or winsomely; charm or captivate: She was taken by the puppy.
6. 1. To put (food or drink, for example) into the body; eat or drink: took a little soup for dinner.
   2. To draw in; inhale: took a deep breath.
7. To expose one's body to (healthful or pleasurable treatment, for example): take the sun; take the waters at a spa.
8. To bring or receive into a particular relation, association, or other connection: take a new partner into the firm; take a company national.
9. To engage in sex with.
10. To accept and place under one's care or keeping.
11. To appropriate for one's own or another's use or benefit; obtain by purchase; secure or buy: We always take season tickets.
12. To assume for oneself: take all the credit.
    1. To charge or oblige oneself with the fulfillment of (a task or duty, for example); commit oneself to: She took the position of chair of the committee.
    2. To pledge one's obedience to; impose (a vow or promise) upon oneself.
    3. To impose upon oneself; subject oneself to: We took extra time to do the job properly.
    4. To accept or adopt for one's own: She took his side in the dispute.
    5. To put forth or adopt as a point of argument, defense, or discussion.
    6. To require or have as a fitting or proper accompaniment: Transitive verbs take a direct object.
13. To pick out; select or choose: take any card.
    1. To choose for one's own use; avail oneself of the use of: We took a rented car.
    2. To use (something) as when in operation: This camera takes 35mm film.
    3. To use (something) as a means of conveyance or transportation: take a train to Pittsburgh.
    4. To use (something) as a means of safety or refuge: take shelter from the storm.
    5. To choose and then adopt (a particular route or direction) while on foot or while operating a vehicle: Take a right at the next corner. The driver downshifted to take the corner.
14. To assume occupancy of: take a seat.
15. To require (something) as a basic necessity: It takes money to live in that town.
16. To obtain from a source; derive or draw: The book takes its title from the Bible.
17. To obtain, as through measurement or a specified procedure: took the patient's temperature.
18. To write or make a record of, especially in shorthand or cursive writing: take a letter; take notes.
19. To create (an image, likeness, or representation), as by drawing, painting, or photography: took a picture of us.
20. To include or distribute (a charge) in a financial record.
21. 1. To accept (something owed, offered, or given) either reluctantly or willingly: take a bribe.
    2. To submit to (something inflicted); undergo or suffer: didn't take his punishment well.
    3. To put up with; endure or tolerate: I've had about all I can take from them.
    4. Baseball. To refrain from swinging at (a pitched ball).
    5. To be affected with; catch: The child took the flu.
    6. To be hit or penetrated by: took a lot of punches; took a bullet in the leg.
    7. To withstand: The dam took the heavy flood waters.
22. 1. To accept or believe (something put forth) as true: I'll take your word.
    2. To follow (advice, a suggestion, or a lead, for example).
    3. To accept, handle, or deal with in a particular way: He takes things in stride.
    4. To consider in a particular relation or from a particular viewpoint: take the bitter with the sweet.
23. To undertake, make, or perform: take a walk; take a decision.
24. 1. To allow to come in; give access or admission to; admit: The boat took a lot of water but remained afloat.
    2. To provide room for; accommodate: We can't take more than 100 guests.
    3. To become saturated or impregnated with (dye, for example).
25. 1. To understand or interpret: May I take your smile as an indication of approval?
    2. To consider; assume: Take the matter as settled.
    3. To consider to be equal to; reckon: We take their number at 1,000.
    4. To perceive or feel; experience: She took a dislike to his intrusions.
26. To carry, convey, lead, or cause to go along to another place: Don't forget to take your umbrella. This bus takes you to New York. See Usage Note at bring.
27. To remove from a place: take the dishes from the sink.
28. To secure by removing: The dentist took two molars.
29. To cause to die; kill or destroy: The blight took these tomatoes.
30. To subtract: take 15 from 30.
31. To exact: The storm took its toll.
32. 1. To commit and apply oneself to the study of: take art lessons; take Spanish.
    2. To study for with success: took a degree in law.
33. Informal. To swindle, defraud, or cheat: You've really been taken.

v.intr.

1. To acquire possession.
2. To engage or mesh; catch, as gears or other mechanical parts.
3. To start growing; root or germinate: Have the seeds taken?
4. To have the intended effect; operate or work: The skin graft took.
5. To gain popularity or favor: The television series, which didn't take, was later canceled.
6. To become: He took sick.

n.

1. 1. The act or process of taking.
   2. That which is taken.
2. 1. A quantity collected at one time, especially the amount of profit or receipts taken on a business arrangement or venture.
   2. The number of fish, game birds, or other animals killed or captured at one time.
3. Sports. The amount of money collected as admission to a sporting event; the gate.
4. The uninterrupted running of a movie or television camera or a set of recording equipment in filming a movie or television program or cutting a record.
5. 1. A scene filmed or televised without interrupting the run of the camera.
   2. A recording made in a single session.
6. 1. A physical reaction, such as a rash, indicating a successful vaccination.
   2. A successful graft.
7. Slang. An attempt or a try: He got the answer on the third take.
8. Informal. An interpretation or assessment, as of an event: The mayor was asked for his take on the judge's decision.

phrasal verbs:

take after

1. To follow as an example.
2. To resemble in appearance, temperament, or character.

take apart

1. To divide into parts after disassembling.
2. To dissect or analyze (a theory, for example), usually in an effort to discover hidden or innate flaws or weaknesses.
3. Slang. To beat up; thrash.

take back

1. To retract (something stated or written).

take down

1. To bring to a lower position from a higher one.
2. To take apart; dismantle: take down the Christmas tree.
3. To lower the arrogance or the self-esteem of (a person): really took him down during the debate.
4. To put down in writing.

take for

1. To regard as: Do you take me for a fool?
2. To consider mistakenly: Don't take silence for approval.

take in

1. To grant admittance to; receive as a guest or an employee.
2. To reduce in size; make smaller or shorter: took in the waist on the pair of pants.
3. To include or constitute.
4. To understand: couldn't take in the meaning of the word.
5. To deceive or swindle: was taken in by a confidence artist.
6. To look at thoroughly; view: took in the sights.
7. To accept (work) to be done in one's house for pay: took in typing.
8. To convey (a prisoner) to a police station.

take off

1. To remove, as clothing: take one's coat off; take off one's galoshes.
2. To release: took the brake off.
3. To deduct as a discount: took 20 percent off.
4. To carry off or away.
5. Slang.
   1. To go off; leave: took off in a hurry.
   2. To achieve wide use or popularity: a new movie that really took off.
6. To rise into the air or begin flight: The plane took off on time.
7. To discontinue: took off the commuter special.
8. To withhold service due, as from one's work: I'm taking off three days during May.

take on

1. To undertake or begin to handle: took on extra responsibilities.
2. To hire; engage: took on more workers during the harvest.
3. To oppose in competition: a wrestler who took on all comers.
4. Informal. To display violent or passionate emotion: Don't take on so!
5. To acquire (an appearance, for example) as or as if one's own: Over the years he has taken on the look of a banker.

take out

1. To extract; remove: took the splinter out.
2. To secure (a license, for example) by application to an authority.
3. Informal. To escort, as a date.
4. To give vent to: Don't take your frustration out in such an aggressive manner.
5. To obtain as an equivalent in a different form: took out the money owed in services.
6. Informal. To begin a course; set out: The police took out after the thieves.
7. Slang.
   1. To kill; murder: Two snipers took out an enemy platoon.
   2. To search for and destroy in an armed attack or other such encounter: Combat pilots, flying low to avoid radar, took out the guerrilla leader's bunker in a single mission.

take over

1. To assume control, management, or responsibility.
2. To assume the control or management of or the responsibility for: She took over the job after he left.
3. To become dominant: Our defense took over in the second half of the game.

take to

1. To have recourse to; go to, as for safety: took to the woods.
2. To develop as a habit or a steady practice: take to drink.
3. To become fond of or attached to: “Two keen minds that they are, they took to each other” (Jack Kerouac).

take up

1. To raise; lift.
2. To reduce in size; shorten or tighten: take up a gown.
3. To pay off (an outstanding debt, mortgage, or note).
4. To accept (an option, bet, or challenge) as offered.
5. To begin again; resume: Let's take up where we left off.
6. To use up, consume, or occupy: The extra duties took up most of my time.
7. To develop an interest in or devotion to: take up mountain climbing.
8. To deal with: Let's take up each problem one at a time.
9. To assume: took up a friendly attitude.
10. To absorb or adsorb: crops taking up nutrients.
11. To enter into (a profession or business): took up engineering.

idioms:

on the take Informal.

1. Taking or seeking to take bribes or illegal income: “There were policemen on the take” (Scott Turow).

take a bath Informal.

1. To experience serious financial loss: “Small investors who latched on to hot new issues took a bath in Wall Street” (Paul A. Samuelson).

take account of

1. To take into consideration.

take away from

1. To detract from: Drab curtains took away from the otherwise lovely room.

take care

1. To be careful: Take care or you will slip on the ice.

take care of

1. To assume responsibility for the maintenance, support, or treatment of.

take charge

1. To assume control or command.

take effect

1. To become operative, as under law or regulation: The curfew takes effect at midnight.
2. To produce the desired reaction: The antibiotics at last began to take effect.

take exception

1. To express opposition by argument; object to: took exception to the prosecutor's line of questioning.

take five (or ten) Slang.

1. To take a short rest or break, as of five or ten minutes.

take for granted

1. To consider as true, real, or forthcoming; anticipate correctly.
2. To underestimate the value of: a publisher who took the editors for granted.

take heart

1. To be confident or courageous.

take hold

1. To seize, as by grasping.
2. To become established: The newly planted vines quickly took hold.

take it

1. To understand; assume: As I take it, they won't accept the proposal.
2. Informal. To endure abuse, criticism, or other harsh treatment: If you can dish it out, you've got to learn to take it.

take it on the chin Slang.

1. To endure punishment, suffering, or defeat.

take it or leave it

1. To accept or reject unconditionally.

take it out on Informal.

1. To abuse (someone) in venting one's own anger.

take kindly to

1. To be receptive to: take kindly to constructive criticism.
2. To be naturally attracted or fitted to; thrive on.

take lying down Informal.

1. To submit to harsh treatment with no resistance: refused to take the snub lying down.

take notice of

1. To pay attention to.

take (one's) breath away

1. To put into a state of awe or shock.

take (one's) time

1. To act slowly or at one's leisure.

take place

1. To happen; occur.

take root

1. To become established or fixed.
2. To become rooted.

take shape

1. To take on a distinctive form.

take sick

1. Chiefly Southern U.S. To become ill.

take sides

1. To associate with and support a particular faction, group, cause, or person.

take stock

1. To take an inventory.
2. To make an estimate or appraisal, as of resources or of oneself.

take stock in

1. To trust, believe in, or attach importance to.

take the bench Law.

1. To assume a judicial position.

take the cake

1. To be the most outrageous or disappointing.
2. To win the prize; be outstanding.

take the count

1. To be defeated.
2. Sports. To be counted out in boxing.

take the fall (or hit) Slang.

1. To incur blame or censure, either willingly or unwillingly: a senior official who took the fall for the failed intelligence operation.

take the floor

1. To rise to deliver a formal speech, as to an assembly.

take the heat Slang.

1. To incur and endure heavy censure or criticism: had a reputation for being able to take the heat in a crisis.

take to the cleaners Slang.

1. To take all the money or possessions of, especially by outsmarting or swindling.

take up for

1. To support (a person or group, for example) in an argument.

take up the cudgels

1. To join in a dispute, especially in defense of a participant.

take up with Informal.

1. To begin to associate with; consort with: took up with a fast crowd.

[Middle English taken, from Old English tacan, from Old Norse taka.]

takable tak'a·ble adj.

1. Variation of shot.

2. Turn off a video source by the director's command, as in "Take one."

3. Individual scene or pose used in the final print of a film, program, or commercial. Every scene is assigned a take number as it is being shot, which is later used to locate the scene for editing or screening. The take number usually agrees with the number of times the scene has been shot before the director feels that it is the way it should be.

4. In retailing, amount of money in the cash register(s) of a retail outlet at the close of business on a given day.

In general: (1) profit realized from a transaction; (2) gross receipts of a lottery or gambling enterprise; (3) open to bribery, as in being on the take.

Law: to seize possession of property. When a debtor defaults on a debt backed by Collateral, that property is taken back by the creditor.

Securities: act of accepting an Offer price in a transaction between brokers or dealers.

also take up

verb

1. To obtain possession or control of: capture, gain, get, win. Slang cop. See get/lose.
2. To gain possession of, especially after a struggle or chase: capture, catch, get, net¹, secure. Informal bag. Slang nail. See get/lose.
3. To become affected with a disease: catch, contract, develop, get, sicken. Idioms: come down with. See get/lose.
4. To come upon, especially suddenly or unexpectedly: catch, hit on (or upon), surprise. Informal hit. See surprise/expect.
5. To have a sudden overwhelming effect on: catch, seize, strike. See attack/defend, over/under.
6. To direct or impel to oneself by some quality or action: allure, appeal, attract, draw, entice, lure, magnetize. Informal pull. See like/dislike.
7. To cause to pass from the mouth into the stomach: ingest, swallow. See mouth.
8. To admit to one's possession, presence, or awareness: accept, have, receive. See accept/reject.
9. To engage in sexual relations with: bed, copulate, couple, have, mate, sleep with. Idioms: go to bed with, make love, make whoopee, roll in the hay. See sex/asexual.
10. To receive (something given or offered) willingly and gladly. accept, embrace, welcome. See accept/reject.
11. To lay claim to for oneself or as one's right: appropriate, arrogate, assume, commandeer, preempt, seize, usurp. See give/take/reciprocity.
12. To go aboard (a means of transport): board, catch. See used/unused.
13. To have as a need or prerequisite: ask, call for, demand, entail, involve, necessitate, require. See necessary/unnecessary, over/under.
14. To obtain from another source: derive, draw, get. See kin.
15. To put up with: abide, accept, bear, brook², endure, go, stand (for), stomach, suffer, support, sustain, swallow, tolerate, withstand. Informal lump². Idioms: take it, take it lying down. See accept/reject.
16. To perform a function effectively: function, go, operate, run, work. See thrive/fail/exist.
17. To perceive and recognize the meaning of: accept, apprehend, catch (on), compass, comprehend, conceive, fathom, follow, get, grasp, make out, read, see, sense, take in, understand. Informal savvy. Slang dig. Chiefly British twig. Scots ken. Idioms: gethavea handle on, get the picture. See understand/misunderstand.
18. To understand in a particular way: construe, interpret, read. See understand/misunderstand.
19. To cause to come along with oneself: bear, bring, carry, convey, fetch, transport. See accompanied.
20. To move (something) from a position occupied: remove, take away, take off, take out, withdraw. See move/halt.
21. To take away (a quantity) from another quantity. abate, deduct, discount, rebate, subtract. Informal knock off. See increase/decrease.
22. To get money or something else from by deceitful trickery: bilk, cheat, cozen, defraud, gull, mulct, rook, swindle, victimize. Informal chisel, flimflam, trim. Slang diddle¹, do, gyp, stick, sting. See honest/dishonest.

phrasal verb - take after

To be similar to, as in appearance: resemble. Chiefly Regional favor,, same/different/compare.

phrasal verb - take away

To move (something) from a position occupied: remove, take, take off, take out, withdraw,, move/halt.

phrasal verb - take back

1. To occupy or take again: reassume, re-claim, reoccupy, repossess, resume, retake. See give/take/reciprocity.
2. To send, put, or carry back to a former location: give back, restore, return. See increase/decrease, keep/release.
3. To disavow (something previously written or said) irrevocably and usually formally: abjure, recall, recant, retract, withdraw. See accept/reject.

phrasal verb - take down

1. To cause to descend: depress, drop, let down, lower². See rise/fall.
2. To take (something) apart: break down, disassemble, dismantle, dismount. See assemble/disassemble.

phrasal verb - take in

1. To allow admittance, as to a group: accept, admit, receive. See accept/reject.
2. To have as a part: comprehend, comprise, contain, embody, embrace, encompass, have, include, involve, subsume. See include/exclude.
3. To perceive and recognize the meaning of: accept, apprehend, catch (on), compass, comprehend, conceive, fathom, follow, get, grasp, make out, read, see, sense, take, understand. Informal savvy. Slang dig. Chiefly British twig. Scots ken. Idioms: gethavea handle on, get the picture. See understand/misunderstand.
4. To cause to accept what is false, especially by trickery or misrepresentation: beguile, betray, bluff, cozen, deceive, delude, double-cross, dupe, fool, hoodwink, humbug, mislead, trick. Informal bamboozle, have. Slang four-flush. Idioms: lead astray, play false, pull the wool over someone's eyes, put something over on, take for a ride. See honest/dishonest.

phrasal verb - take off

1. To take from one's own person: doff, remove. See put on/take off.
2. To move (something) from a position occupied: remove, take, take away, take out, withdraw. See move/halt.
3. To move or proceed away from a place: depart, exit, get away, get off, go, go away, leave¹, pull out, quit, retire, run (along), withdraw. Informal cut out, push off, shove off. Slang blow¹, split. Idioms: hit the road, take leave. See approach/retreat.
4. To rise up in flight: lift (off). See rise/fall.

phrasal verb - take on

1. To take upon oneself: assume, incur, shoulder, tackle, take over, undertake. See accept/reject.
2. To go about the initial step in doing (something): approach, begin, commence, embark, enter, get off, inaugurate, initiate, institute, launch, lead off, open, set about, set out, set to, start, take up, undertake. Informal kick off. Idioms: get cracking, get going, get the show on the road. See start/end.
3. To obtain the use or services of: employ, engage, hire, retain. Idioms: put on the payroll. See get/lose, work/play.
4. To enter into conflict with: encounter, engage, meet¹. Idioms: dojoinbattle with. See conflict/cooperation, meet.
5. To worry over trifles: chafe, fuss, pother. See calm/agitation.
6. To take, as another's idea, and make one's own: adopt, embrace, espouse, take up. See accept/reject, give/take/reciprocity.

phrasal verb - take out

1. To move (something) from a position occupied: remove, take, take away, take off, withdraw. See move/halt.
2. To be with another person socially on a regular basis: date, go out, see. See connect.

phrasal verb - take over

1. To seize and move into by force: occupy. See attack/defend.
2. To take upon oneself: assume, incur, shoulder, tackle, take on, undertake. See accept/reject.
3. To free from a specific duty by acting as a substitute: relieve, spell³. See substitute.

phrasal verb - take to

To find agreeable: fancy, like¹. Chiefly British conceit,, like/dislike.

phrasal verb - take up

1. To move (something) to a higher position: boost, elevate, heave, hoist, lift, pick up, raise, rear², uphold, uplift, upraise, uprear. See rise/fall.
2. To begin or go on after an interruption: continue, pick up, renew, reopen, restart, resume. See continue/stop/pause.
3. To be occupied or concerned with: consider, deal with, treat. Idioms: have to do with. See relevant/irrelevant.
4. To go about the initial step in doing (something): approach, begin, commence, embark, enter, get off, inaugurate, initiate, institute, launch, lead off, open, set about, set out, set to, start, take on, undertake. Informal kick off. Idioms: get cracking, get going, get the show on the road. See start/end.
5. To take in (moisture or liquid): absorb, drink, imbibe, soak (up), sop up. See give/take/reciprocity.
6. To take in and incorporate, especially mentally: absorb, assimilate, digest, imbibe. Informal soak (up). See accept/reject.
7. To take, as another's idea, and make one's own: adopt, embrace, espouse, take on. See accept/reject, give/take/reciprocity.

noun

1. The amount of money collected as admission, especially to a sporting event: box office, gate. See money.
2. A trying to do or make something: attempt, crack, effort, endeavor, essay, go, offer, stab, trial, try. Informal shot. Archaic assay. See try.

Idioms beginning with take:
take pains
take into one's head
take sick
take the trouble
take a whack at
take a hand in
take effect
take in good part
takes two
take a load off one's mind
take off one's hands
take something on faith
take pride in
take a rain check
taken aback
take a back seat
take a bath
take a bow
take a break
take a chance
take a dim view of
take advantage of
take a spill
take a shine to
take after
take a gander at
take a hike
take a hint
take aim
take a joke
take out of
take a leak
take a look at
take a picture
take a poke at
take a powder
take for gospel
take a shellacking
take aside
take a stand
take a turn for the better
take a walk
take away from
take by storm
take by surprise
take charge
take cover
take some doing
take down a notch
take exception to
take five
take wing
take heart
take someone in
take in hand
take in stride
take into account
take into one's confidence
take issue with
take something
take it easy
take it from here
take it from me
take it on the chin
take it or leave it
take it out of one
take it out on
take on oneself
take kindly to
take one's leave
take lying down
take no for an answer, not
take note
take notes
taken with, be
take offense
take office
take one's breath away
take one's chances
take one's cue from
take one's hat off to
take one's medicine
take one's time
take over
take part
take pity on
take potluck
take root
take shape
take sides
take someone's measure
take someone's name in vain
take someone's part
take someone's point
take someone's word for
take for a ride
take steps
take stock
take stock in
take the bit in one's mouth
take the bitter with the sweet
take the bread out of someone's mouth
take the bull by the horns
take the cake
take the edge off
take the fall
take the field
take the Fifth
take the floor
take the heat
take the initiative
take the law into one's hands
take the liberty of
take the load off
take the plunge
take the pulse of
take the rap
take the rough with the smooth
take the starch out of
take the sting out of
take the wind out of one's sails
take the words out of someone's mouth
take the wrong way
take to heart
take to one's heels
take turns
take umbrage
take up where one left off
take up a collection
take up arms
take up for
take up space
take up with

See also at (take) pains; devil take the hindmost; double take; give and take; give or take; go to (take) the trouble; have (take) a crack at; have (take) a fit; in (take) effect; (take) in good part; in tow, take; it takes all sorts; it takes getting used to; it takes one to know one; (take) off one's hands; (take) on faith; on the take; pay your money and take your choice; pride oneself (take pride in); (take a) rain check; sit up and take notice; that's (takes care of) that; what do you take me for; what it takes; (take) with a grain of salt; you can lead (take) a horse to water; you can't take it with you.

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n

Definition: profit
Antonyms: debt, loss

v

Definition: accept, adopt; use, consume
Antonyms: abstain, disallow, refuse, reject

v

Definition: buy; reserve
Antonyms: refuse, reject

v

Definition: captivate, enchant
Antonyms: disenchant, repulse

v

Definition: carry, transport; accompany
Antonyms: hold, keep, maintain

v

Definition: cheat, deceive
Antonyms: be honest

v

Definition: contract, catch
Antonyms: be immune

v

Definition: endure
Antonyms: avoid, discontinue, dodge, refuse, reject, stop

v

Definition: get; help oneself to
Antonyms: give, receive

v

Definition: steal
Antonyms: give, offer

v

Definition: subtract
Antonyms: add

v

Definition: understand
Antonyms: misconceive, misunderstand

v

Definition: win; be successful
Antonyms: fail, lose

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v. past took ; past part. taken 1. capture or gain possession of by force or military means: twenty of their ships were sunk or taken | the French took Ghent.

2. occupy (a place or position): within hours the Marines had taken the hill.

3. furl a sail.

take off (of an aircraft or bird) become airborne.

take something over also take over assume control of something: British troops had taken over the German trenches.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

A cynical view of the world by Ambrose Bierce

v.t.

To acquire, frequently by force but preferably by stealth.

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IN BRIEF: To get a hold of something and keep for yourself.

Better to give then to take. — John Heywood (1497?-1580), English playwright.