take the helm

idiom

1
: to steer a boat or ship
The ship's captain took the helm.
2
: to take a position of full control or authority in an organization
She took the helm of the university.

Examples of take the helm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Because there are only 16 to 31 guests per ship, captains often invite inquisitive passengers to take the helm with their guidance or to help raise and lower sails, as crew members share their love of seafaring. Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025 Chris Fusco, an award-winning editor with more than 30 years of news and leadership experience, will take the helm of The Sacramento Bee as its new executive editor, and as regional editor overseeing McClatchy Media’s California newsrooms. Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2025 Anutin will lead a minority government, which the People's Party will not join, and take the helm of a country with an economy struggling from weak consumption, tight lending and soaring levels of household debt. Panarat Thepgumpanat, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025 Houry told me that officials across the CDC were excited for Monarez to take the helm when she was confirmed last month. Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for take the helm

Cite this Entry

“Take the helm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20the%20helm. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

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