take

Use take in a sentence

A woman takes a picture with her camera.

verb

Take is defined as capture, get hold of, transfer something to oneself or travel by something.

An example of take is making a photograph of a friend.
An example of take is having a drink of water from a cup.
An example of take is having a ride in a taxi to the airport.

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take

transitive verb

took, tak′en, tak′ing

to get possession of by force or skill; seize, grasp, catch, capture, win, etc. to get by conquering; capture; seize to trap, snare, or catch (a bird, animal, or fish)
1. to win (a game, a trick at cards, etc.)
2. to capture (an opponent's piece in chess or checkers)
to get hold of; grasp or catch to hit (a person) in or on some part to affect; attack: taken with a fit to catch in some act, esp. a moral fault: taken in adultery to capture the fancy of; charm
to get by action not involving force or skill; obtain, acquire, assume, etc. to get into one's hand or hold; transfer to oneself to eat, drink, swallow, etc. for nourishment or as medicine to admit; let in: the bus takes 20 riders to get benefit from by exposure to (the air, sun, etc.) to enter into a special relationship with: to take a wife to have sexual intercourse with to buy: he took the first suit he tried on to rent, lease, or pay for so as to occupy or use: to take a cottage to get regularly by paying for: to take a daily newspaper to assume as a responsibility, task, etc.: to take a job to assume or adopt (a symbol of duty or office): the president took the chair to obligate oneself by: to take a vow to join or associate oneself with (one party or side in a contest, disagreement, etc.) to assume as if granted or due one: to take the blame, to take deductionsSlang to cheat; trickGram. to have or admit of according to usage, nature, etc.; be used with in construction: a transitive verb takes an object
to get, adopt, use, etc. by selection or choice to choose; select to use or employ; resort to: to take a mop to the floor
1. to travel by: to take a bus
2. to set out on; follow: to take the old path
to go to (a place) for shelter, safety, etc.: to take cover to deal with; consider: to take a matter seriously
1. to occupy: take a chair
2. to use up; consume: to take all day
to require; demand; need: often used impersonally: it takes money; to take a size tenBaseball to allow (a pitched ball) to pass without swinging one's bat
to get from a source to derive, inherit, or draw (a name, quality, etc.) from something or someone specified to extract, as for quotation; excerpt: to take a verse from the Bible to obtain or ascertain by observation, query, or experiment: to take a poll, to take one's temperature to study; specif., to be enrolled as a student in: to take an art course to write down; copy: take notes
1. to make (a photograph, picture, etc.)
2. to draw, photograph, etc. a likeness of: take the scene in color
to make an impression of: take his fingerprints
to get as offered or due; receive, accept, suffer, etc. to win (a prize, reward, etc.) to be the object of; specif.,
1. to undergo: to take a beating
2. to withstand; endure; hold up against: a tire designed to take punishment; she can't take a joke
to occupy oneself in; enjoy: take a nap to accept (something offered): to take a bet, to take advice to have a specified reaction to: to take a joke in earnest to confront and get over, through, etc.: the horse took the jump to be affected by (a disease, etc.): to take cold to absorb; become impregnated or treated with (a dye, polish, etc.)
to receive mentally
1. to understand the remarks of (a person)
2. to comprehend the meaning of (words or remarks)
3. to understand or interpret in a specified way
to suppose; presume: he took her to be a teacher to have or feel (an emotion or mental state): take pity, take notice to hold and act upon (an idea, point of view, etc.)
to make or complete by action to do; perform (an act): to take a walk to make or put forth (a resolution or objection) as the result of thoughtInformal to aim and execute (a specified action) at an object: to take a jab at someone
to move, remove, etc. to be the way or means of going to (a place, condition, etc.); conduct; lead: the path takes you to the river to escort or accompany: to take a friend to dinner to carry or transport: to take a book with one to remove from a person, thing, or place; specif., to steal to remove by death; bring to an end: cancer takes many lives to subtract: to take two from ten to direct or move (oneself)

Origin of take

Middle English taken from Old English tacan from Old Norse taka from uncertain or unknown; perhaps Indo-European base an unverified form d?g-, to lay hold of

to get possession
to hook or engage with another part: said of a mechanical device
to take root; begin growing: said of a plant
to lay hold; catch: the fire took rapidly
to gain public favor; be popular
to be effective in action, operation, desired result, etc.: the vaccination took; the dye takes well
to remove a part; detract (from): nothing took from the scene's beauty
to be made or adapted to be taken (up, down, apart, etc.)
Informal to be photographed in a specified way: she takes well in profile
Law to take possession of property

the act or process of taking
something that has been taken
1. the amount or quantity of something taken: the day's take of fish
2. Slang money received; receipts or profit
a vaccination that takes
Film
1. an uninterrupted shot photographed by a camera
2. the process of photographing such a shot
1. any of a series of recordings or tapes of a performance, from which one will be made for release to the public
2. the process of so recording
Informal opinion; evaluation; assessment: followed by on: what's your take on the new tax?
Printing the amount of copy sent to the compositor at one time

take Idioms

on the take

Slang willing or seeking to take bribes or illicit income

take after

to resemble (a parent, etc.) in some way
Informal to run after or pursue

take a meeting

Slang to attend a business conference

take amiss

Archaic to be wrong concerning; mistake
to misunderstand the reason behind (an act), esp. so as to become offended

take back

to regain use or possession of
to retract (something said, promised, etc.)
to return (something), as to be exchanged

take down

to remove from a higher place and put in a lower one; pull down
to unfasten; take apart
to make less conceited; humble
to put in writing; record

take five (or ten, etc.)

Informal take a break for five (or ten, etc.) minutes, as from working

take for

to consider to be; regard as
to mistake for

take hold

to take effect or become firmly established: the new fad took hold quickly

take hold of

to seize; grasp

take ill

to become ill (or sick)

take in

to admit; receive
to reef or furl (a sail)
to make smaller or more compact
to include; comprise
to understand; comprehend
to cheat; trick; deceive
to visit, see, experience, etc.: to take in all the sights
to receive into one's home for pay: to take in boarders

take it

to suppose; believe
Slang to withstand difficulty, criticism, hardship, ridicule, etc.

take it or leave it

accept it or not

take it out of

Informal

to exhaust; tire
to obtain payment or satisfaction from

take it out on

Informal to make (another) suffer for one's own anger, irritation, bad temper, etc.

take off

to remove (a garment, etc.)
to draw or conduct away
1. to go away; depart
2. to absent oneself, as from work
to deduct; subtract
to kill
to make a copy or likeness of
to leave the ground or water in flight
Informal to start
Informal to imitate in a burlesque manner; parody: with on
Informal to become very popular and successful
Slang to rob

take off after

Informal to run after or pursue

take on

to acquire; assume (form, quality, etc.)
to employ; hire
to begin to do (a task, etc.); undertake
to compete or play against; oppose
Informal to show violent emotion, especially anger or sorrow

take one's time

to be slow or unhurried; delay

take out

1. to remove; extract
2. to deduct
to obtain by application to the proper authority
Informal to escort, as on a date
Slang to kill; specif., to assassinate

take over

to assume control or possession of

take to

to develop a habit or practice of doing, using, etc.
to apply oneself to (one's studies, work, etc.)
to become fond of; care for; be attracted to
1. to go to or withdraw to: to take to the hills, take to one's bed with the flu
2. to travel on or proceed by: to take to the open road

take up

to raise; lift
to make tighter or shorter
to pay off; recover by buying (a mortgage, note, etc.)
to absorb (a liquid)
1. to accept (a challenge, bet, etc.)
2. to accept the challenge, offer, etc. of: with on: to take him up on his generous offer
to assume protection or custody of
to interrupt in disapproval or rebuke: with on
to resume (something interrupted)
1. to become interested in or devoted to (an occupation, study, hobby, belief, etc.)
2. to adopt (an idea)
to occupy or fill (space or time)

take upon oneself

to take the responsibility for; accept as a charge
to begin (to do something)

take up with

Informal to become a friend or companion of

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take

verb

took, tak·en, tak·ing, takes

verb

transitive

To get into one's hands, control, or possession, especially:
a. To grasp or grip: take your partner's hand.
b. To capture physically; seize: take an enemy fortress.
c. To seize with authority or legal right: The town took the land by eminent domain.
d. To get possession of (fish or game, for example) by capturing or killing.
e. Sports To catch or receive (a ball or puck): The player took the pass on the fly.
f. Sports & Games To acquire in a game or competition; win: took the crown in horse racing.
g. Sports & Games To defeat: Our team took the visitors three to one.
h. To engage in sex with.
To remove or cause to be absent, especially:
a. To remove with the hands or an instrument: I took the dishes from the sink. The dentist took two molars.
b. To cause to die; kill or destroy: The blight took these tomatoes.
c. To subtract: If you take 10 from 30, you get 20.
d. To exact: The storm took its toll.
To affect in a strong or sudden manner as if by capturing, as:
a. To deal a blow to; strike or hit: The boxer took his opponent a sharp jab to the ribs.
b. To delight or captivate: She was taken by the puppy.
c. To catch or affect with a particular action: Your remark took me by surprise.
a. To carry in one's possession: Don't forget to take your umbrella. See Usage Note at bring.
b. To convey by transportation: This bus will take you to Dallas.
c. To lead or cause to go along to another place: The guide took us to the waterfall.
d. To be as a path or course for; provide a way for: The trail takes you to the lake.
To receive into or on the body, as:
a. To put (food or drink, for example) into the body; eat or drink: took a little soup for dinner.
b. To draw in; inhale: took a deep breath.
c. To expose one's body to (healthful or pleasurable treatment, for example): take the sun; take the waters at a spa.
To make use of or select for use, as:
a. To move into or assume occupancy of: She took a seat by the fireplace. The team took the field.
b. To choose for one's own use; avail oneself of the use of: We took a room in the cheaper hotel.
c. To require the use of (something): It takes money to live in this town. This camera takes 35-millimeter film.
d. To use or require (time): It only takes a few minutes to wash the car.
e. To use (something) as a means of conveyance or transportation: take a train to Pittsburgh.
f. To use (something) as a means of safety or refuge: take shelter from the storm.
g. 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. I downshifted to take the corner.
a. To undertake, make, or perform: take a walk; take a decision.
b. To perceive or become aware of by one of the senses: took a quick look at the sky; took a smell of the spices.
c. To commit and apply oneself to the study of: take art lessons; take Spanish.
d. To study for with success: took a degree in law.
To accept, receive, or assume, as:
a. To accept (something owed, offered, or given) either reluctantly or willingly: take a bribe.
b. To allow to come in; give access or admission to; admit: The boat took a lot of water but remained afloat.
c. To provide room for; accommodate: We can't take more than 100 guests.
d. To become saturated or impregnated with (dye, for example).
e. To submit to (something inflicted); undergo or suffer: didn't take his punishment well.
f. To put up with; endure or tolerate: I've had about all I can take from them.
g. To receive into a particular relation or association, as into one's care or keeping: They plan to take a new partner into the firm. We took the dog for a week.
h. To assume for oneself: take all the credit.
i. To agree to undertake or engage in (a task or duty, for example): She took the position of chair of the committee.
j. Baseball To refrain from swinging at (a pitched ball).
k. To be affected with; catch: The child took the flu.
l. To be hit or penetrated by: took a lot of punches; took a bullet in the leg.
m. To withstand: The dam took the heavy flood waters.
n. To require or have as a fitting or proper accompaniment: Transitive verbs take a direct object.
a. To accept as true; believe: I'll take your word that he's telling the truth.
b. To impose upon oneself; subject oneself to: take a vow.
c. To follow or adhere to (advice or a suggestion, for example).
d. To accept or adopt as one's own: take a stand on an issue; take an interest in local history.
e. To regard or consider in a particular relation or from a particular viewpoint: We must take the bitter with the sweet. Take the matter as settled.
f. To understand or interpret: May I take your smile as an indication of approval?
g. To consider to be equal to; reckon: We take their number at 1,000.
h. To perceive or feel; experience: I took a dislike to my neighbor's intrusions.
a. To obtain from a source; derive or draw: This book takes its title from the Bible.
b. To obtain, as through measurement or a specified procedure: took the patient's temperature.
c. To write or make a record of, especially in shorthand or cursive writing: take a letter; take notes.
d. To create (an image, likeness, or representation), as by photography: took a picture of us.
e. To include or distribute (a charge) in a financial record.
Informal To swindle, defraud, or cheat: You've really been taken.

verb

intransitive

a. To get something into one's possession; acquire possession: The invaders took and took, until they had everything.
b. To accept or receive something: When it comes to advice, you take but you never give.
a. To have the intended effect; operate or work: The skin graft took.
b. To start growing; root or germinate: Have the seeds taken?
c. To engage or mesh; catch, as gears or other mechanical parts.
d. To gain popularity or favor: The television series never took and was later canceled.
e. Regional To begin or engage in an activity: He took and threw the money in the river.
To become: He took sick.

noun

a. A quantity collected at one time, especially the amount of profit or receipts taken on a business venture or from ticket sales at a sporting event.
b. The number of fish, game birds, or other animals killed or captured at one time.
a. A scene filmed without interrupting the run of the camera.
b. A recording made in a single session.
A performer's reaction, especially to a specific situation or remark, as part of a comedy routine. Often used in combination: a double-take.
a. A physical reaction, such as a rash, indicating a successful vaccination.
b. A successful graft.
a. An attempt or a try: He got the answer on the third take.
b. An interpretation or assessment, as of an event: The mayor was asked for her take on the judge's decision.

Phrasal Verbs: take after To follow as an example: John takes after his grandfather. To resemble in appearance, temperament, or character.To pursue hastily: The store owner took after the thief. take apart To divide into parts; disassemble or dismantle.To dissect or analyze (a theory, for example), usually in an effort to discover hidden or innate flaws or weaknesses. Slang To beat up or defeat soundly; thrash. take back To retract (something stated or written). take down To bring to a lower position from a higher one.To take apart; dismantle: take down the Christmas tree. To lower the arrogance or the self-esteem of (a person): really took him down during the debate. To put down in writing: take down a letter. take for To regard as: Do you take me for a fool? To consider mistakenly: Don't take silence for approval. take in To receive (an amount of money), as from a business venture: The box office took in $30,000 in an hour.

a. To grant admittance to; receive as a guest or an employee.

b. To accept (work) to be done in one's house for pay: took in typing.

a. To reduce in size; make smaller or shorter: took in the waist on the pair of pants.

b. To make (a garment) smaller by tailoring.

c. Nautical To furl (a sail).

To include or encompass: The tour takes in every site worth seeing.

a. To attend or experience: took in a movie; took in the sites.

b. To understand: couldn't take in the meaning of the word.

To deceive or swindle: was taken in by a confidence artist. To convey (a prisoner) to a police station. take off To remove, as clothing: take one's coat off; take off one's shoes. To release: took the brake off. To deduct as a discount: took 20 percent off. To discontinue: took off the commuter special. To spend (time) away from work or an activity: I'm taking off three days in May. I took last week off and now I have a lot of work to do.

a. To go or leave: took off in pursuit of the robber.

b. To rise into the air or begin flight: The plane took off on time.

c. To achieve success or popularity: a new movie that really took off.

take on

a. To undertake or begin to handle: took on extra responsibilities.

b. To oppose in competition: a wrestler who took on all comers.

To hire; engage: took on more workers during the harvest. To assume or acquire as one's own: Over the years he has taken on a doleful look. To display violent or passionate emotion: Don't take on so! take out

a. To extract or remove: took the splinter out.

b. Slang To kill: gangsters plotting to take out their rivals.

c. Slang To destroy, as in an armed attack: The bombers took out the radio station.

To secure by application to an authority: take out a mortgage; take out a marriage license. Informal To escort, as a date.To give vent to: Don't take your frustration out in such an aggressive manner. To obtain as an equivalent in a different form: took out the money owed in services. Informal To begin a course; set out: The police took out after the thieves. Nautical To land a small boat and remove it from the water: The canoeists took out above the rapids. take over To assume control, management, or responsibility: I'm taking over while the supervisor is on vacation. To assume the control or management of or the responsibility for: She took over the job after he left. To become dominant: Our defense took over in the second half of the game. To do (an action or a play in a game) again when the first performance has been discounted or is under dispute. take to To have recourse to; go to, as for safety: took to the woods. To develop as a habit or a steady practice: take to drink. To become fond of or attached to: “Two keen minds that they are, they took to each other” ( Jack Kerouac ) take up To raise; lift.To absorb or adsorb; draw up or incorporate: crops taking up nutrients.

a. To begin again; resume: Let's take up where we left off.

b. To develop an interest in or enter into: take up mountain climbing; take up engineering.

c. To accept (an option, bet, or challenge) as offered.

d. To deal with: Let's take up each problem one at a time.

e. To assume: took up a friendly attitude.

a. To use up, consume, or occupy: The extra duties took up most of my time. The bed took up half of the room.

b. To establish (residence).

To reduce in size; shorten or tighten: take up a gown; take up the slack.

Origin of take

Middle English taken from Old English tacan from Old Norse taka

Related Forms:

tak′a·ble
adjective

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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"Take." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/TAKE.

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Take. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/TAKE

Verb

(third-person singular simple present takes, present participle taking, simple past took, past participle taken)

To get or put something into one's or someone's possession or control.
1. To grasp with the hands.
2. To pick up and move to oneself.
  I'll take that plate off the table.
3. To carry or move, especially to a particular destination.
  I'll take the plate with me.
4. To lead; to conduct.
  Who's going to take the kids to school?
  I took my girlfriend to the cinema.
5. To choose.
  I'll take the blue plates.
  We took the road on the right.
6. To accept.
  Do you take sugar in your coffee?
  We take all major credit cards.
7. (military) To gain a position by force.
  After a bloody battle, they were able to take the city.
8. To ingest medicine, drugs, etc.
  I take aspirin every day to thin my blood.
9. To capture using a photographic camera.
  The photographer took a picture of our family.
10. (dated) To form a likeness of; to copy; to depict.
  to take (i.e. draw or paint) a picture of a person
11. 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Matthew XXIII:
  Jesus perceaved there wylynes, and sayde: Why tempte ye me ye ypocrytes? lett me se the tribute money. And they toke hym a peny.

To have or change a state of mind or body.

To endure or cope with.
I can take the noise, but I can't take the smell.
(often with “for") To assume or interpret to be.
Do you take me for a fool?
I take it you're not going?
Looking at him as he came into the room, I took him for his father.
He was often taken to be a man of means.
(intransitive) To become.
They took ill within 3 hours. She took sick with the flu.
To enroll (in a class, or a course of study).
I plan to take math, physics, literature and flower arrangement this semester.
To participate in, undergo, or experience.
Aren't you supposed to take your math final today? When will you take your vacation? I had to take a pee.
(intransitive) To habituate to or gain competency at a task.
I take to swimming like a fish.
To perform or undertake, for example, a task.
to take a trip; to take aim
To experience or feel, for example, offence.
to take a dislike; to take pleasure
(reflexive) To go.

To require or limit.

To support or carry without failing or breaking.
That truck bed will only take two tons.
To need, require.
Looks like it's gonna take a taller person to get that down. Finishing this on schedule will take a lot of overtime.
To last or expend [an amount of time].
I estimate the trip will take about ten minutes.

(sports) To decide or to act.

(baseball) To not swing at a pitch.
He'll probably take this one.
(climbing) To tighten (take up) a belaying rope. Often used imperatively.
(cricket) To catch the ball; especially for the wicket-keeper to catch the ball after the batsman has missed or edged it.
To be the player who performs (a free kick, etc.).
The kick is taken from where the foul occurred. PirÃ¨s ran in to take the kick. The throw-in is taken from the point where the ball crossed the touch-line.
Not to refuse or balk at; to undertake readily; to clear.
The pony took every hedge and fence in its path.

To have sex with.

The rapist took his victims in dark alleys.

To fight or attempt to fight somebody. (See also take on.)

Don't try to take that guy. He's bigger than you.

(intransitive) To stick, persist, thrive or remain.

I started some tomato seeds last spring, but they didn't take.

He was inoculated, but the virus did not take.

To use.

Let's take the bus today. This camera takes 35mm film.

To consider as an instance or example.

I've had a lot of problems recently. Take last Monday. The car broke down on the way to work. Then ...etc.

To gain or secure the interest or affection of; to captivate; to engage; to interest; to charm.

To bear without ill humour or resentment; to submit to; to tolerate; to endure.

Can he take a joke?

I'm not going to take your insults.

To accept the word or offer of; to receive and accept.

To draw; to deduce; to derive.

I'm not sure what moral to take from that story.

To accept, as something offered; to receive; not to refuse or reject; to admit.

(often with to mean) To understand or interpret.

Usage notes

In informal speech, especially in certain sociolects, took is sometimes replaced by the proscribed form taked.

Noun

(plural takes)

An act of taking.
Something that is taken; a haul.
A profit, reward, bribe, illegal payoff or unethical kickback.
He wants half of the take if he helps with the job.
The mayor is on the take.
An interpretation or view; perspective.
What's your take on this issue, Fred?
(film) An attempt to record a scene.
It's a take.
Act seven, scene three, take two.
(rugby) A catch.
(acting) A facial gesture in response to an event.
I did a take when I saw the new car in the driveway.
(cricket) A catch of the ball, especially by the wicket-keeper.
(printing) The quantity or copy given to a compositor at one time.

Origin

From Middle English taken (“to take, lay hold of, grasp, strike"), from Old English tacan (“to grasp, touch"), probably of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse taka (“to touch, take"), from Proto-Germanic *tÄ“kanÄ… (“to touch"), from Proto-Indo-European *dehâ‚g-, *dhâ‚g- (“to touch"). Gradually displaced Middle English nimen (“to take"), from Old English niman (“to take"). Cognate with Icelandic taka (“to take"), Danish tage (“to take, seize"), Middle Dutch taken (“to grasp"), Middle Low German tacken (“to grasp"). See tackle.