take

¹take

verb \ˈtāk\

took\ˈtu̇k\tak·en\ˈtā-kən\tak·ing

Definition of TAKE

transitive verb

1

: to get into one's hands or into one's possession, power, or control: as a : to seize or capture physically <took them as prisoners> b : to get possession of (as fish or game) by killing or capturing c (1) : to move against (as an opponent's piece in chess) and remove from play (2) : to win in a card game <able to take 12 tricks> d : to acquire by eminent domain

2

: grasp, grip <take the ax by the handle>

3

a : to catch or attack through the effect of a sudden force or influence <taken with a fit of laughing> <taken ill> b : to catch or come upon in a particular situation or action <was taken unawares> c : to gain the approval or liking of : captivate, delight <was quite taken with her at their first meeting>

4

a : to receive into one's body (as by swallowing, drinking, or inhaling) <take a pill> b : to put oneself into (as sun, air, or water) for pleasure or physical benefit c : to partake of : eat <takes dinner about seven>

5

a : to bring or receive into a relation or connection <takes just four students a year> <it's time he took a wife> b : to copulate with

6

: to transfer into one's own keeping: a : appropriate <someone took my hat> b : to obtain or secure for use (as by lease, subscription, or purchase) <take a cottage for the summer> <I'll take the red one> <took an ad in the paper>

7

a : assume <gods often took the likeness of a human being> <when the college took its present form> b (1) : to enter into or undertake the duties of <take a job> <take office> (2) : to move onto or into : move into position on <the home team took the field> <take the witness stand> c (1) : to bind oneself by <take the oath of office> (2) : to make (a decision) especially with finality or authority d : to impose upon oneself <take the trouble to do good work> <take pains to make her feel welcome> e (1) : to adopt as one's own <take a stand on the issue> <take an interest> (2) : to align or ally oneself with <mother took his side> f : to assume as if rightfully one's own or as if granted <take the credit> g : to accept the burden or consequences of <took the blame> h : to have or assume as a proper part of or accompaniment to itself <transitive verbs take an object>

8

a : to secure by winning in competition <took first place> b : defeat

9

: to pick out : choose, select <took the best apple>

10

: to adopt, choose, or avail oneself of for use: as a : to have recourse to as an instrument for doing something <take a scythe to the weeds> b : to use as a means of transportation or progression <take the bus> c : to have recourse to for safety or refuge <take shelter> d : to go along, into, or through <took a different route> e (1) : to proceed to occupy <take a seat in the rear> (2) : to use up (as space or time) <takes a long time to dry> (3) : need, require <takes a size nine shoe> <it takes two to start a fight>

11

a : to obtain by deriving from a source : draw <takes its title from the name of the hero> b (1) : to obtain as the result of a special procedure : ascertain <take the temperature> <take a census> (2) : to get in or as if in writing <take notes> <take an inventory> (3) : to get by drawing or painting or by photography <take a snapshot> (4) : to get by transference from one surface to another <take a proof> <take fingerprints>

12

: to receive or accept whether willingly or reluctantly <take a bribe> <will you take this call> <take a bet>: as a (1) : to submit to : endure <take a cut in pay> (2) : withstand <it will take a lot of punishment> (3) : suffer <took a direct hit> b (1) : to accept as true : believe <I'll take your word for it> (2) : follow <take my advice> (3) : to accept or regard with the mind in a specified way <took the news hard> <you take yourself too seriously> c : to indulge in and enjoy <was taking his ease on the porch> d : to receive or accept as a return (as in payment, compensation, or reparation) <we don't take credit cards> e : to accept in a usually professional relationship —often used with on <agreed to take him on as a client> f : to refrain from hitting at (a pitched ball) <take a strike>

13

a (1) : to let in : admit <the boat was taking water fast> (2) : accommodate <the suitcase wouldn't take another thing> b : to be affected injuriously by (as a disease) : contract <take cold>; also : to be seized by <take a fit> <take fright> c : to absorb or become impregnated with (as dye); also : to be effectively treated by <a surface that takes a fine polish>

14

a : apprehend, understand <how should I take your remark> b : consider, suppose <I take it you're not going> c : reckon, accept <taking a stride at 30 inches> d : feel, experience <take pleasure> <take an instant dislike to someone> <take offense>

15

a : to lead, carry, or cause to go along to another place <this bus will take you into town> <took an umbrella with her> b : to cause to move to a specified state, condition, or sphere of activity <took the company public> <took his team to the finals> c : to stop prescribing a specified regimen to —used with off <took him off the medication>

16

a : remove <take eggs from a nest> b (1) : to put an end to (life) (2) : to remove by death <was taken in his prime> c : subtract <take two from four> d : exact <the weather took its toll>

17

a : to undertake and make, do, or perform <take a walk> <take aim> <take legal action> <take a test> <take a look> b : to participate in <take a meeting>

18

a : to deal with <take first things first> b : to consider or view in a particular relation <taken together, the details were significant>; especially : to consider as an example <take style, for instance> c (1) : to apply oneself to the study of <take music lessons> <take French> (2) : to study for especially successfully <taking a degree in engineering> <took holy orders>

19

: to obtain money from especially fraudulently <took me for all I had>

20

: to pass or attempt to pass through, along, or over <took the curve too fast> <take the stairs two at a time>

intransitive verb

1

: to obtain possession: as a : capture b : to receive property under law as one's own

2

: to lay hold : catch, hold

3

: to establish a take especially by uniting or growing <90 percent of the grafts take>

4

a : to betake oneself : set out : go <take after a purse snatcher> b chiefly dialect —used as an intensifier or redundantly with a following verb <took and swung at the ball>

5

a : to take effect : act, operate <hoped the lesson he taught would take> b : to show the natural or intended effect <dry fuel takes readily>

6

: charm, captivate <a taking smile>

7

: detract

8

: to be seized or attacked in a specified way : become <took sick>

— tak·er noun

— take a back seat

: to have or assume a secondary position or status

— take a bath

: to suffer a heavy financial loss

— take account of

: to take into account

— take advantage of

1

: to use to advantage : profit by

2

: to impose on : exploit; also : to exploit sexually

— take after

: to resemble in features, build, character, or disposition

— take a hike also take a walk

: to go away : leave

— take aim at

: target 1 <new legislation that takes aim at crime>

— take apart

1

: to disconnect the pieces of : disassemble

2

: to treat roughly or harshly : tear into

— take a powder

: to leave hurriedly

— take care

: to be careful or watchful : exercise caution or prudence

— take care of

: to attend to or provide for the needs, operation, or treatment of

— take charge

: to assume care, custody, command, or control

— take effect

1

: to become operative

2

: to be effective

— take exception

: object <took exception to the remark>

— take five or take ten

: to take a break especially from work

— take for

: to suppose to be; especially : to suppose mistakenly to be

— take for a ride

: trick, cheat

— take for granted

1

: to assume as true, real, or expected

2

: to value too lightly

— take heart

: to gain courage or confidence

— take hold

1

: grasp, grip, seize

2

: to become attached or established : take effect

— take into account

: to make allowance for

— take in vain

: to use (a name) profanely or without proper respect

— take issue

: disagree

— take it on the chin

: to suffer from the results of a situation

— take kindly to

: to show an inclination to accept or approve

— take no prisoners

: to be merciless or relentless (as in exploiting an advantage) <a politician who takes no prisoners>

— take notice of

: to observe or treat with special attention

— take one's time

: to be leisurely about doing something

— take part

: join, participate, share

— take place

: happen, occur

— take root

1

: to become rooted

2

: to become fixed or established

— take shape

: to assume a definite or distinctive form

— take ship

: set out on a voyage by ship

— take the cake

: to carry off the prize : rank first

— take the count

1

of a boxer : to be counted out

2

: to go down in defeat

— take the floor

: to rise (as in a meeting or a legislative assembly) to make a formal address

— take the mickey

British : joke, kid

— take the mickey out of

British

: to make fun of : tease

— take the plunge

: to do or undertake something decisively especially after a period of hesitation or uncertainty

— take to

1

: to go to or into <take to the woods>

2

: to apply or devote oneself to (as a practice, habit, or occupation) <take to begging>

3

: to adapt oneself to : respond to <takes to water like a duck>

4

: to conceive a liking for

— take to court

: to bring before a judicial body; especially : sue 3

— take to task

: to call to account for a shortcoming : criticize

— take to the cleaners

: to deprive of money or possessons : clean out

— take turns

: alternate

Examples of TAKE

1. She took her things to her room.
2. It looks like rain. You had better take an umbrella with you.
3. This bus takes you downtown.
4. Her office is down that hallway. I can take you there, if you want me to.
5. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
6. She took us for a ride in her new car.
7. He's not the kind of guy you can take home to meet your parents.
8. She took her child to one side and scolded him.
9. I took the pen and signed my name.
10. Take the pan by the handle.

Origin of TAKE

Middle English, from Old English tacan, from Old Norse taka; akin to Middle Dutch taken to take

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to TAKE

Synonyms: clasp, grasp, grip, hold, hang on to, lay hold of

Antonyms: decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, refuse, reject, spurn, turn down, veto

Related Words: clench, cling (to), clutch, hold on (to); catch, nab, seize, snatch

Near Antonyms: discharge, drop, free, liberate, release; deliver, entrust (also intrust), give, hand, hand over, pass, relinquish, transfer, transmit, turn over, unhand

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Synonym Discussion of TAKE

take, seize, grasp, clutch, snatch, grab mean to get hold of by or as if by catching up with the hand. take is a general term applicable to any manner of getting something into one's possession or control <take some salad from the bowl>. seize implies a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of something tangible or an apprehending of something fleeting or elusive when intangible <seized the suspect>. grasp stresses a laying hold so as to have firmly in possession <grasp the handle and pull>. clutch suggests avidity or anxiety in seizing or grasping and may imply less success in holding <clutching her purse>. snatch suggests more suddenness or quickness but less force than seize <snatched a doughnut and ran>. grab implies more roughness or rudeness than snatch <grabbed roughly by the arm>.

Rhymes with TAKE

ache, bake, brake, break, cake, crake, drake, Drake, fake, flake, hake, jake, lake, make, quake, rake, sake, shake, slake, snake, stake, steak, strake, wake