verb (
mainly transitive)
takes, taking, took, taken 1. (also intransitive) to gain possession of (something) by force or effort
2. to appropriate or steal: to take other people's belongings
3. to receive or accept into a relationship with oneself: to take a wife
5. to rent or lease: to take a flat in town
6. to receive or obtain by regular payment: we take a newspaper every day
7. to obtain by competing for; win: to take first prize
8. to obtain or derive from a source: he took his good manners from his older brother
9. to assume the obligations of: to take office
10. to endure, esp with fortitude: to take punishment
11. to adopt as a symbol of duty, obligation, etc: to take the veil
12. to receive or react to in a specified way: she took the news very well
13. to adopt as one's own: to take someone's part in a quarrel
14. to receive and make use of: to take advice
15. to receive into the body, as by eating, inhaling, etc: to take a breath
16. to eat, drink, etc, esp habitually: to take sugar in one's tea
17. to have or be engaged in for one's benefit or use: to take a rest
18. to work at or study: to take economics at college
19. to make, do, or perform (an action): to take a leap
20. to make use of: to take an opportunity
21. to put into effect; adopt: to take measures
22. (also intransitive) to make a photograph of or admit of being photographed
23. to act or perform: she takes the part of the Queen
24. to write down or copy: to take notes
25. to experience or feel: to take pride in one's appearance, to take offence
26. to consider, believe, or regard: I take him to be honest
27. to consider or accept as valid: I take your point
28. to hold or maintain in the mind: his father took a dim view of his career
29. to deal or contend with: the tennis champion took her opponent's best strokes without difficulty
30. to use as a particular case: take hotels for example
31. (intransitive) often foll by from. to diminish or detract: the actor's bad performance took from the effect of the play
32. to confront successfully: the horse took the jump at the third attempt
33. (intransitive) to have or produce the intended effect; succeed: her vaccination took, the glue is taking well
34. (intransitive) (of seeds, plants, etc) to start growing successfully
35. to aim or direct: he took a swipe at his opponent
36. to deal a blow to in a specified place
37. (archaic) to have sexual intercourse with
38. to carry off or remove from a place
39. to carry along or have in one's possession: don't forget to take your umbrella
40. to convey or transport: the train will take us out of the city
41. to use as a means of transport: I shall take the bus
42. to conduct or lead: this road takes you to the station
43. to escort or accompany: may I take you out tonight?
44. to bring or deliver to a state, position, etc: his ability took him to the forefront in his field
45. to go to look for; seek: to take cover
46. to ascertain or determine by measuring, computing, etc: to take a pulse, take a reading from a dial
47. (intransitive) (of a mechanism) to catch or engage (a part)
48. to put an end to; destroy: she took her own life
49. to come upon unexpectedly; discover
50. to contract: he took a chill
51. to affect or attack: the fever took him one night
52. (copula) to become suddenly or be rendered (ill): he took sick, he was taken sick
53. (also intransitive) to absorb or become absorbed by something: to take a polish
54. (usually passive) to charm or captivate: she was very taken with the puppy
55. (intransitive) to be or become popular; win favour
56. to require or need: this job will take a lot of attention, that task will take all your time
57. to subtract or deduct: to take six from ten leaves four
58. to hold or contain: the suitcase won't take all your clothes
59. to quote or copy: he has taken several paragraphs from the book for his essay
60. to proceed to occupy: to take a seat
61. (often foll by to) to use or employ: to take steps to ascertain the answer
62. to win or capture (a trick, counter, piece, etc)
63. (also intransitive) to catch as prey or catch prey
64. (slang) to cheat, deceive, or victimize
65. take amiss, to be annoyed or offended by
66. take at one's word, See word (sense 17)
67. take care, to pay attention; be heedful
68. take care of, to assume responsibility for; look after
69. take chances, take a chance, to behave in a risky manner
70. (informal, mainly US & Canadian) take five, to take a break of five minutes
71. take heart, to become encouraged
72. take it - to assume; believe: I take it you'll be back later
- (informal) to stand up to or endure criticism, abuse, harsh treatment, etc
73. take one's time, to use as much time as is needed; not rush
74. take place, to happen or occur
75. take someone's name in vain - to use a name, esp of God, disrespectfully or irreverently
- (jocular) to say (someone's) name
76. take something upon oneself, to assume the right to do or responsibility for (something)