take - Definition & Meaning | Lingo Dictionary

take

Third Person

takes

Present Participle

taking

Past Tense

took

Past Participle

taken

to reach for something and hold it

transitive

He took the cup of coffee from the table and sipped it slowly.
He took the puppy in his arms and petted it.
May I take your coat and hat, sir?
Please take my hand as we cross the street.
She took the cookie I offered her and thanked me.

Synonyms:

get hold of

to move or carry a thing or person from one location to a different one

transitive

Can you take this package to the post office for me?
Don't forget to take your keys with you when you go out.
He took the suitcase from the car and carried it up the stairs.
They need to take their luggage to the airport for the flight.
We need to take the car to the mechanic for an oil change.

Synonyms:

convey bring

to consume a drug, medication, or substance in a specified manner, such as swallowing, inhaling, or injecting

transitive

The nurse instructed the patient to take the prescribed antibiotics with a full glass of water.
The pharmacist explained how to take the pain medication — one pill every four hours as needed.
The doctor advised him to take the cough syrup every six hours until the symptoms improved.
She hesitated before deciding to take the flu shot to protect herself from the seasonal virus.
The asthmatic patient needs to take the inhaler as soon as they experience shortness of breath.

to need a specific amount of time to do something or for something to be done or happen

transitive

Learning a new language can take several months of consistent practice.
Completing the project will likely take a few weeks of dedicated effort.
Cooking a homemade meal from scratch can take more time than ordering takeout.
The repair work on the car is estimated to take at least a couple of days.
Mastering a musical instrument can take years of practice and dedication.

Synonyms:

occupy use up

to remove something or someone from a specific place

transitive

He took a photo from his wallet and showed it to the group.
He took the book from the shelf and started reading.
He took the painting off the wall and carefully wrapped it up.
The decorations must be taken down after the party.
The waiter took the empty plates from the table.

Synonyms:

withdraw remove take away

to receive something or someone willingly or accept something that someone has offered

transitive

He took the advice from his mentor to heart.
I'll take the job offer if it comes with a good salary.
She took the gift from her friend with gratitude.

Synonyms:

have accept

Antonyms:

refuse

(dummy verb) to perform an action that is specified by a noun

transitive

I'll take a shower before heading out.
Let's take a break and grab some coffee.
Can you take a look at this report and provide feedback?
She decided to take a swim in the pool after a long day.
He needed to take a nap to recharge his energy.

to study a particular subject in school, university, etc.

transitive

She plans to take advanced mathematics classes next semester to challenge herself.
Students often take introductory language courses to fulfill language requirements.
He chose to take an elective in art history to explore his interest in cultural influences on art.
To broaden her knowledge in business, she decided to take a specialization in marketing.
I'm excited to take a workshop on digital marketing to enhance my skills in the field.

Synonyms:

learn study read

to be the one who teaches a class

transitive

The professor takes the advanced physics course for graduate students.
Our math teacher is absent today, so the vice principal will take us for algebra.
Ms. Johnson takes the kindergarten class every Monday morning.
Mrs. Rodriguez takes us for Spanish on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Dr. Martinez takes the introductory biology class for freshmen.

to assume someone or something to be a particular person or thing, particularly mistakenly

transitive

Despite thorough examination, the art historians took the well-executed forgery for an original masterpiece.
After the misunderstanding, she took my silence for indifference, but I was actually just deep in thought.
The detective took the witness's shaky testimony for nervousness, not realizing it was due to fear.
At first glance, I took the small creature for a mouse, but upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a shrew.
Observing his confident demeanor, many initially took the intern to be the manager.

(grammar) to require or have something as part of the composition that is appropriate

transitive

In English, the adjective "afraid" typically takes the preposition "of" when expressing fear.
The verb "correspond" takes the preposition "with" when referring to compatibility in ideas.
The phrase "interested in" is commonly taken by the verb "be" when expressing curiosity about a subject.
The verb "consist" takes the preposition "of" when describing the components that make up something.
"Believe" often takes the preposition "in" when expressing faith or confidence in a concept.

(of plants, seeds, etc.) to start to grow or take root

After a few weeks of watering, the seeds began to take, and tiny sprouts emerged from the soil.
The tomato seedlings have taken, and you can see the first set of true leaves emerging.
In the spring, the garden comes alive as the dormant bulbs take and bloom into a vibrant display of flowers.
The orchard's grafts took well, and young fruit trees started to grow in the carefully tended rows.
I transplanted some rosemary from my friend's garden, and it has taken nicely in the well-draining soil.

to work successfully or have a positive effect

The new marketing strategy seems to be taking, as sales have seen a steady increase.
The medicine is starting to take, and the patient's symptoms are gradually subsiding.
The fertilizer application didn't take, and the plants continued to struggle with growth.
The new therapy seems to be taking, as patients are reporting significant improvement in their symptoms.
The transplanted kidney began to take, and the patient showed signs of improvement.

to direct something in a specific direction

transitive

To reach their destination, the hikers needed to take a left turn at the fork in the trail.
As they approached the intersection, she decided to take a right onto the main road.
The driver had to take a sharp turn to avoid the oncoming traffic on the narrow street.
The dog eagerly responded to its owner's command to take a left at the crossroads during their walk.

Synonyms:

make

to consume or accept a particular food or beverage

transitive

She'll take the vegetarian option, and he'll have the steak.
Do you take cream with your tea?
How do you take your cappuccino?With cinnamon or chocolate on top?
Would you like a slice of cake?No thanks, I'll just take a cup of coffee.
Would you like to take honey or sugar with your herbal tea?

Synonyms:

take in have consume ingest

Antonyms:

abstain

to participate in a specific examination or assessment

transitive

Students were required to take a comprehensive final exam at the end of the semester.
She decided to take the proficiency test to demonstrate her language skills.
In high school, I had to take the SAT as part of the college admissions process.
Candidates must take a series of aptitude tests as part of the job application.
Before starting the new job, employees are often asked to take a skills assessment.

to use a specific plan or method to deal with a situation or reach a goal

transitive

To address environmental concerns, the city council is taking steps to promote sustainable practices.
The community came together to take collective action against pollution, organizing cleanup campaigns and raising awareness.
Faced with financial challenges, the organization had to take drastic measures to cut costs and stay afloat.
Recognizing the need for innovation, the company decided to take a more creative approach to product development.
The coach advised the players to take a more aggressive strategy in the second half of the game.

to show a particular reaction to someone or something

transitive

He took the news of his promotion with genuine enthusiasm.
The students took the teacher's feedback positively and worked on improving their assignments.
The manager took the client's concerns seriously and implemented changes to address them.
The politician took the criticism in a diplomatic manner, addressing the concerns raised by the opposition.
She took the rejection gracefully and didn't let it affect her self-esteem.

(of machines) to utilize a specific substance or fuel for operation

transitive

The car is designed to take unleaded gasoline for optimal performance.
This lawnmower model is capable of taking both gas and electric power sources.
The generator is configured to take natural gas as its primary fuel source.
The new heating system is designed to take solar energy for more eco-friendly operation.
The coffee maker is programmed to take coffee pods for brewing individual servings.

(of a sports player) to kick, throw, or initiate play from a specified position

transitive

The star striker stepped up to take the penalty and expertly placed the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
The team captain is known for his precision when taking free kicks, often scoring crucial goals from long distances.
After the foul in the box, the referee awarded a penalty, and the midfielder was chosen to take the shot.
The corner kick was perfectly taken, and the tall forward headed the ball into the goal.
With the score tied, the team relied on their experienced captain to take the corner kick and create a goal-scoring opportunity.

to be the one who leads a religious service

transitive

Reverend Anderson took the Sunday morning worship service at the church.
Rabbi Cohen will take the Shabbat service this week.
The pastor took the evening prayer meeting, leading the congregation in spiritual reflection.
Sister Maria often takes the midweek Bible study at the community center.
Imam Ahmed will take the Friday sermon at the mosque.

to gather people's opinions using methods like voting, polling, or surveying

transitive

The committee decided to take a vote to determine which proposal would be implemented.
The marketing team took a survey to understand customer preferences and improve their product.
The teacher took a poll in the classroom to gauge interest in the upcoming field trip.
The student council took a vote to decide on the theme for the school dance.
The government agency took a poll to gather public opinions on environmental conservation initiatives.

(of businesses, shops, etc.) to earn or receive a specified amount of money from customers

transitive

The bakery took over $100 in sales during the morning rush hour.
The farmer's market stall took €50 from selling fresh produce and handmade crafts.
The garage sale took $50 from the sale of old furniture and clothing.
The flower shop took €50 on Valentine's Day from customers purchasing bouquets.
The popcorn stand took $20 during the movie night at the park.

to allow someone to become a part of a particular group or receive a service

transitive

The exclusive club only takes members who have been recommended by current ones.
Unfortunately, the restaurant is fully booked and can't take any more reservations for tonight.
The clinic is currently unable to take new patients due to a high volume of existing appointments.
The art class can only take a limited number of students, so early registration is recommended.
The daycare can't take any more children until additional staff is hired.

Synonyms:

take on admit accept

to engage in a sexual act with someone

transitive

The couple decided to take each other after several drinks at the bar.
With consent and desire, Alex took Mia, exploring their shared intimacy.
They decided to become intimate and took each other.
In a consensual encounter, Jake and Olivia took one another, cherishing the depth of their connection.
After a romantic evening, Michael took Emily in a moment of shared desire.

to capture and confine someone against their will

transitive

The police took the suspect into custody.
The rebels took the diplomat captive as a bargaining chip in the negotiations.
The kidnappers successfully took the heiress and demanded a hefty sum for her safe return.
The invading forces took political leaders as prisoners to destabilize the government.

to accept responsibility and lead a situation or task

transitive

After the manager resigned, Sarah had to take charge of the project to ensure its successful completion.
The captain decided to take control of the ship's navigation during the storm.
In times of crisis, strong leaders step forward to take control and guide the team through challenges.
The teacher had to take charge of the chaotic classroom to restore order and focus.

to defeat someone in a competition

transitive

The chess champion confidently took his rival in just a few moves, securing another tournament win.
The soccer team played with determination and managed to take their opponents in a thrilling shootout.
In the final round of the tournament, she took her rival with a powerful knockout punch.
Despite being the smaller boxer, he used his speed and agility to take his formidable opponent.
The determined basketball team worked together to take their opponents in a closely contested match.

to find a safe and peaceful place, especially in challenging situations or emergencies

transitive

As the storm approached, the hikers decided to take cover in a nearby cave.
In the face of the approaching tornado, residents were advised to take shelter in their basements.
When the unexpected gunfire erupted, the civilians quickly took cover behind the buildings.
The frightened bird took refuge in the bushes to escape the approaching predator.
The weary traveler was grateful to find a quiet inn to take refuge for the night.

to use or have available for use

transitive

Take a cup of flour and sift it into the mixing bowl.
Take a pinch of salt and sprinkle it over the caramel for added flavor.
For the dressing, take a clove of garlic and mince it finely before adding to the vinaigrette.
To assemble the sandwich, take two slices of bread and spread mayonnaise on one side.
To start the recipe, take three eggs and beat them until fluffy before adding to the batter.

to accept and commit to a specific responsibility or promise

transitive

He took the pledge to support environmental conservation efforts.
Before assuming the role, the CEO had to take responsibility for the company's financial performance.
The athletes took a vow to uphold the principles of fair play and sportsmanship.
Upon joining the military, recruits take the oath of allegiance, affirming their commitment to defend the country.
In the academic community, professors often take a commitment to foster a positive learning environment.

Synonyms:

strike take up assume

(in chess) to remove an opponent's piece from the board by moving one's own piece to its position

transitive

White strategically takes the pawn with the knight, gaining control of the center of the board.
In a bold move, the queen takes the opposing bishop, putting pressure on the opponent's position.
The player decided to take the knight with the rook, seizing the opportunity for a tactical advantage.
After careful consideration, Black takes the pawn with the queen, setting the stage for an upcoming attack.
The opening move involves taking the central pawn with the queen, establishing control early in the game.

to accept a certain form of payment or compensation

transitive

The store only takes cash for purchases under $10.
The freelance artist prefers to take payment in the form of bank transfers.
The online store takes various forms of payment, including credit cards and digital wallets.
Unfortunately, the taxi only takes cash payments.
Does the store take cash for small purchases?

to allow the entry of a substance

transitive

The leaky roof was taking rainwater into the attic.
The old windows were taking the noise from the busy street outside.
The boat's hull had a crack, and it was taking water rapidly.
The tent had a tear, and it was taking sand from the windy beach.
The cracked windshield was taking the cold wind during the drive.

to cause the loss of lives

transitive

She was taken after a long battle with illness, surrounded by her loved ones.
The elderly cat was taken, and the family mourned the loss of their longtime pet.
She was taken by a sudden heart attack, leaving her family in shock and sorrow.
The factory explosion took several workers, and the community mourned the loss of their colleagues.
The earthquake took the inhabitants of the small village, leaving devastation in its wake.

to participate in a certain event

transitive

The project manager decided to take a training session to educate the team on the new software.
The team members will take a workshop to enhance their skills in project management.
She had to take a seminar on leadership development to stay updated on industry trends.
The professor asked the students to take a lecture by the visiting expert in the field.
The employees were required to take a webinar on cybersecurity to enhance their awareness.