take to
verb
took to; taken to; taking to; takes to
1
: to go to or into (a place)
take to the woods/hills
Thousands of people took to the streets in protest. [=went out into the streets to protest]
He took to the airwaves [=he spoke on the radio] with his message.
2
: to begin doing (something) as a habit or regular practice
take to drink
—usually used with a following present participletake to drinking/smoking
He's recently taken to staying up late on weekends.
A few of her classmates took to calling her Pipi, after Pippi Longstocking …—
Calvin Tomkins
Calvin TomkinsRecently, he'd taken to wearing tuxedos and suits and had gotten a new car, she said.—Laura Italiano and Tamar Lapin
Laura Italiano and Tamar Lapin3
: to adapt oneself to
They haven't taken well to the new schedule.
4
: to start to have a liking for
I took to her immediately.
He tried skiing and took to it quickly. [=he quickly learned how to ski and liked doing it]
Note: To take to something like a duck (takes) to water is to begin to do it, use it, etc., in a very quick, easy, and natural way.
She took to horseback riding like a duck to water.
Deanna takes to student life like a duck takes to water, doing all the things that we all did …—Joe Anderton
see also take kindly to
Joe AndertonExamples of take to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Last week, the state legislature’s Joint Budget Committee proposed cutting funding to the Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation, part of a host of cost-saving measures lawmakers are taking to address Colorado’s massive budget deficit.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
He was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Apr. 2026
Police said two people were injured in the shooting and taken to the hospital for treatment.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
The passengers were taken to Denarau Island.
—ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for take to
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Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
He was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Apr. 2026
Police said two people were injured in the shooting and taken to the hospital for treatment.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
The passengers were taken to Denarau Island.
—ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for take to
Cite this Entry
“Take to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20to. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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