1
2
as in placed
to provide with a paying job
decided to take her on as store manager
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in borrowed
to take for one's own use (something originated by another)
recently arrived immigrants who are eager to take on the language and culture of their adopted homeland
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 taken on
The American was greeted by loud cheers from the traveling US fans when her name was announced as a starter, but the occasion didn’t seem to faze the young athlete, who has taken on so much responsibility of late.
—
Ben Church, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
But this one, just yards from where the Super Bowl will kick off Sunday, has taken on a particular level of infamy.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
In recent years, Jimin has also ventured out independently and taken on new projects.
—Kelsey Lentz, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Suplee has spent the past several years documenting his transformation on his podcast, American Glutton, and across social media, where his second career as a fitness influencer has taken on a life of its own.
—Mike Wehner, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Since Stephen Colbert had taken on the Late Show mantel from David Letterman in 2015, the show went from hosting a musical guest nearly every night in the beginning to around once to twice per week in 2025.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
Emily has costly health conditions and has already taken on substantial medical debt.
—Blake Farmer, Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2026
In popular discourse, the word has taken on a life of its own, as an insult deployed without clear reference to any theory of psychology.
—David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
He was diagnosed with a right thigh injury and will have scans taken on Saturday.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Ben Church, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
But this one, just yards from where the Super Bowl will kick off Sunday, has taken on a particular level of infamy.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
In recent years, Jimin has also ventured out independently and taken on new projects.
—Kelsey Lentz, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Suplee has spent the past several years documenting his transformation on his podcast, American Glutton, and across social media, where his second career as a fitness influencer has taken on a life of its own.
—Mike Wehner, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Since Stephen Colbert had taken on the Late Show mantel from David Letterman in 2015, the show went from hosting a musical guest nearly every night in the beginning to around once to twice per week in 2025.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
Emily has costly health conditions and has already taken on substantial medical debt.
—Blake Farmer, Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2026
In popular discourse, the word has taken on a life of its own, as an insult deployed without clear reference to any theory of psychology.
—David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
He was diagnosed with a right thigh injury and will have scans taken on Saturday.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taken on
Verb
-
The secretary has faced pressure from Democrats and Republicans after Renee Good and Alex Pretti were shot dead during an immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota.—
Ryan Mancini,
The Hill,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Had they been convicted, the two immigrants would have faced years in federal prison.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Lardis also participated in the accuracy-shooting event Tuesday, in which four targets were placed on the corners of the net and the All-Stars had to hit them in the fewest amount of shots.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Indeed, in Fennell’s movie, Heathcliff’s race is not explicitly stated, and his otherness seems to center more around class, with emphasis placed on the fact that he was found on the streets of Liverpool and isn’t able to read or write.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Appearing at the Marc Jacobs 2026 Runway Show at Park Avenue Armory in New York City on February 9, Fox donned a slinky look that borrowed from the silhouettes and color blocking of '80s fitness fashion while adding a distinctively modern spin.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
10 Feb. 2026
-
If her name sounds familiar to Landman fans, that’s because Sheridan, a friend of the Goffs, apparently borrowed it for the steel magnolia of an oil wife, played by Demi Moore.—
Sarah Hepola,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The transitional committee, made up of Palestinian administrators, has met in Egypt but has not yet entered Gaza.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The scope of its ambition is met, at every turn, by deft control over what is witnessed, and how.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Daily News first reported investigators served a search warrant on at least one SaferWatch employee after the company hired the brother of two of former Mayor Adams’ top deputies as a consultant.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The body is cleaned and prepared in the Muslim tradition, as the family takes one last look before the burial, while hired men recite the Koran.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Gripped by a worsening economic crisis, Cuba’s government recently adopted rationing measures to protect essential services and ration fuel supplies for key sectors.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Some guests got very into it—one adopted a fake British accent for the duration.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The couple—who got engaged last summer—stepped out for the 2026 Berlinale Film Festival last night; this time, looking equally loved up but embracing complete polar-opposite fashions.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
15 Feb. 2026
-
And a number of them just happen to be dating — or engaged or married to — each other.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Rodríguez herself hasn't embraced meaningful public debate of the nation's problems other than announcing the creation of an advisory commission on political co-existence to be headed by Villegas' brother, Culture Minister Ernesto Villegas.—
EGINA GARCIA CANO,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
-
In the days after the Bondi Beach massacre – allegedly committed by a father and son who had embraced Islamic State ideology – the government announced sweeping new gun laws, tougher rules on hate speech, and stronger powers for the home affairs minister to cancel visas on character grounds.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taken on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taken%20on. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
