take 1 of 2

Definition of takenext
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as in to accommodate
to make or have room for I think we can take two more in this elevator

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to work
to produce a desired effect it will be a few hours before this medication takes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in to receive
to offer entrance (as to a place, school, or privilege) to the school takes only a small percentage of the thousands of applicants

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take

2 of 2

noun

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as in reaction
action or behavior that is done in return to other action or behavior what's your take on the announcement that the senior vice president is taking an early retirement?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in yield
the total amount collected or obtained especially at one time who will win the poker tournament and collect the whole take?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in share
something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group because there were so many winners of the jackpot, each person's take will be smaller than expected

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in interpretation
a distinct treatment of something (as a story or a play) despite its contemporary setting, this take on King Lear isn't particularly novel or insightful

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word take different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of take are clutch, grab, grasp, seize, and snatch. While all these words mean "to get hold of by or as if by catching up with the hand," take is a general term applicable to any manner of getting something into one's possession or control.

take some salad from the bowl

In what contexts can clutch take the place of take?

In some situations, the words clutch and take are roughly equivalent. However, clutch suggests avidity or anxiety in seizing or grasping and may imply less success in holding.

clutching her purse

How are the words grab and snatch related as synonyms of take?

Grab implies more roughness or rudeness than snatch.

grabbed roughly by the arm

Where would grasp be a reasonable alternative to take?

While the synonyms grasp and take are close in meaning, grasp stresses a laying hold so as to have firmly in possession.

grasp the handle and pull

When is seize a more appropriate choice than take?

While in some cases nearly identical to take, seize implies a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of something tangible or an apprehending of something fleeting or elusive when intangible.

seized the suspect

How do snatch and seize relate to one another, in the sense of take?

Snatch suggests more suddenness or quickness but less force than seize.

snatched a doughnut and ran

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of take
Verb
Time to get out of the car and take a mind-clearing walk. Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026 More than that, that portion of their home was once the home of Joseph Bartlett, who is believed to have allowed numerous freedom seekers to take refuge there during the time of the Underground Railroad. Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
Three more Wuthering Heights adaptations Brontë’s 1847 novel has been ripe material for plenty of adaptations aside from Fennell’s feverish take. Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026 Skarsgård doesn’t mind doing multiple takes. Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for take
Recent Examples of Synonyms for take
Verb
  • The visit by Ali Larijani, a former Iranian parliament speaker who now serves as the secretary to the country's Supreme National Security Council, likely focused on what comes next after the initial round of indirect talks held last week in Muscat with the Americans.
    JON GAMBRELL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The Financial Times, citing Ukrainian and European officials involved in the planning, reported on Wednesday that both a presidential vote, in which Zelenskyy would seek re-election, and a nationwide referendum could be held by May 15.
    Ashley Carnahan, FOXNews.com, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Bipartisan skepticism of corporate power comes and goes in America, but the latest wave has roots in the parallel streams flowing from the Great Financial Crisis, Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party.
    Ben Smith, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Kids will have a blast at the Seaport Museum next door, especially when exploring the mock-village section and tall-mast whaling ship.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • And the other function of music media is learning more, getting deeper into fandom, learning more about the lives of a lot of musicians, many of whom don’t necessarily need a magazine or music media to put their image out there for them.
    Ben Smith, semafor.com, 14 Feb. 2026
  • This latest iteration, which builds on the 2024 version by adding a voter ID provision, must get 60 votes to pass.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Taxpayers are encouraged to file as soon as possible and choose direct deposit to receive refunds more quickly.
    Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
  • By testing seasonal changes, different numbers of occupants, and how people behave in offices, the researchers showed that the model can reliably identify more efficient and comfortable configurations, giving designers a much clearer basis for choosing the best energy-saving options.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The Czech Republic has since stopped buying Russian oil, but Hungary and Slovakia used the EU’s exemption to deepen their dependence.
    Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Everybody buys groceries, and everyone has felt the increase in costs over the last few years.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Over the past decade, member states of the European Union – of which the UK is not a member – have already doubled their defense expenditures, but more spending is needed, the defense chiefs argued.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Observers will need to wear solar eclipse glasses, and cameras, telescopes and binoculars must have solar filters placed in front of their lenses at all times.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • From now on, the Post will no longer accommodate the admirably omnivorous avidity of its best readers.
    Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Part of the project will also be expanding a portion of the cart path to accommodate the new service window and to provide ADA access.
    Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • And my initial job and focus was working for the chief digital officer at the time who was a really smart guy.
    Ben Smith, semafor.com, 14 Feb. 2026
  • But its last shutdown plan, released in late September, indicates that 91% of its employees would continue to work without pay.
    Riley Beggin, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Take.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/take. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.

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