take on

verb

took on; taken on; taking on; takes on
Synonyms of take onnext

transitive verb

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
2
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
b
: to have as a mathematical domain or range
what values does the function take on

intransitive verb

: 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

Examples 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
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.
Avoid opening new accounts or taking on debt before applying for a mortgage. Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 19 May 2026 And a Pomeranian must endure an interview before being taken on by an elite dog walker. Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2026 As the room builds its new identity under new linebackers coach Scott Symons, Overshown has been a big part of the new face the position group is taking on. Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2026 An even more red take on Sanders’ third sneaker, the Air DT Max ’96, dropped for Mother’s Day last year as a tribute to his mom Connie. Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for take on

Word History

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of take on was in 1567

Cite this Entry

“Take on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20on. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

take on

verb
1
: to struggle with as an opponent
2
: employ entry 1 sense 2
took on more workers
3
: to acquire (as an appearance or quality) as one's own
take on weight
4
: to make an unusual show of one's feelings especially of grief or anger
don't take on so

More from Merriam-Webster on take on

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster