take on
verb
took on; taken on; taking on; takes on
1
a
: to begin to perform or deal with : undertake
took on new responsibilities
b
: to contend with as an opponent
took on the neighborhood bully
3
a
: to assume or acquire as or as if one's own
the city's plaza takes on a carnival air—
W. T. LeViness
W. T. LeViness
b
: to have as a mathematical domain or range
what values does the function take on
: to show one's feelings especially of grief or anger in a demonstrative way
she cried, and took on like a distracted body—Daniel Defoe
Daniel DefoeExamples of take on in a Sentence
will take on his chief opponent in the next political debate
decided to take her on as store manager
Recent Examples on the Web
Speculation has swirled for months about which actor could take on Ian Fleming’s iconic MI6 agent following Daniel Craig’s recent portrayal in four Bond films.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 4 Aug. 2025
What struck me initially as an avant-garde take on lighting-as-sculpture is indicative, more so, of a movement towards authenticity—where craftsmanship and off-kilter detail are taking precedence over tight lines and modern silhouettes.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 4 Aug. 2025
For many, covering those costs means taking on high-interest credit card debt, skipping other bills or borrowing from retirement savings such as 401(k) accounts.
—Einat Steklov, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
A lot of the folk musicians featured in the doc take on existing policies in Ireland with a call for more liberal attitudes.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take on
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Jack Smart, People.com, 4 Aug. 2025
What struck me initially as an avant-garde take on lighting-as-sculpture is indicative, more so, of a movement towards authenticity—where craftsmanship and off-kilter detail are taking precedence over tight lines and modern silhouettes.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 4 Aug. 2025
For many, covering those costs means taking on high-interest credit card debt, skipping other bills or borrowing from retirement savings such as 401(k) accounts.
—Einat Steklov, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
A lot of the folk musicians featured in the doc take on existing policies in Ireland with a call for more liberal attitudes.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take on
Cite this Entry
“Take on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20on. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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