take [2] (takes plural & 3rd person present) (taking present participle) (took past tense) (taken past participle ) (OTHER USES)
Please look at category 46 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 verb If you take something, you reach out for it and hold it.
Here, let me take your coat... V n
Colette took her by the shoulders and shook her... V n by n
She took her in her arms and tried to comfort her. V n prep
2 verb If you take something with you when you go somewhere, you carry it or have it with you.
Mark often took his books to Bess's house to study... V n prep/adv
You should take your passport with you when changing money... V n with n
Don't forget to take your camera. V n
3 verb If a person, vehicle, or path takes someone somewhere, they transport or lead them there.
The school bus takes them to school and brings them back... V n prep/adv
4 verb If something such as a job or interest takes you to a place, it is the reason for you going there.
He was a poor student from Madras whose genius took him to Cambridge... V n prep/adv
5 verb If you take something such as your problems or your business to someone, you go to that person when you have problems you want to discuss or things you want to buy.
You need to take your problems to a trained counsellor... V n prep/adv
6 verb If one thing takes another to a particular level, condition, or state, it causes it to reach that level or condition.
Her latest research takes her point further. V n prep/adv
7 verb If you take something from a place, you remove it from there.
He took a handkerchief from his pocket and lightly wiped his mouth... V n with prep/adv
Opening a drawer, she took out a letter. V n with prep/adv
8 verb If you take something from someone who owns it, you steal it or go away with it without their permission.
He has taken my money, and I have no chance of getting it back... V n
9 verb If an army or political party takes something or someone, they win them from their enemy or opponent.
Marines went in, taking 15 prisoners... V n
10 verb If you take one number or amount from another, you subtract it or deduct it.
Take off the price of the house, that's another hundred thousand. V n with adv/prep
11 verb If you cannot take something difficult, painful, or annoying, you cannot tolerate it without becoming upset, ill, or angry.
no passive, usu with brd-neg
(=stand, bear)
Don't ever ask me to look after those kids again. I just can't take it!... V n
12 verb If you take something such as damage or loss, you suffer it, especially in war or in a battle.
They have taken heavy casualties. V n
13 verb If something takes a certain amount of time, that amount of time is needed in order to do it.
no passive
Since the roads are very bad, the journey took us a long time... V n n
I had heard an appeal could take years... V n
The sauce takes 25 minutes to prepare and cook... V n to-inf
The game took her less than an hour to finish... V n n to-inf
You must beware of those traps<endash>you could take all day getting out of them... V n -ing
It takes 15 minutes to convert the plane into a car by removing the wings and the tail... it V n to-inf
It had taken Masters about twenty hours to reach the house... it V n n to-inf
It took thirty-five seconds for the hour to strike. it V n for n to-inf
14 verb If something takes a particular quality or thing, that quality or thing is needed in order to do it.
no passive
(=need)
At one time, walking across the room took all her strength... V n
It takes courage to say what you think... it V n to-inf
It takes a pretty bad level of performance before the teachers will criticize the students. it V n before cl
15 verb If you take something that is given or offered to you, you agree to accept it.
(=accept)
His sons took his advice. V n
16 verb If you take a feeling such as pleasure, pride, or delight in a particular thing or activity, the thing or activity gives you that feeling.
(=derive)
They take great pride in their heritage... V n in n/-ing
The government will take comfort from the latest opinion poll. V n from n/-ing
17 verb If a shop, restaurant, theatre, or other business takes a certain amount of money, they get that amount from people buying goods or services.
(mainly BRIT, BUSINESS)
The firm took £100,000 in bookings. V amount
in AM, usually use take in
18 n-sing You can use take to refer to the amount of money that a business such as a store or theatre gets from selling its goods or tickets during a particular period.
(mainly AM, BUSINESS) usu the N
It added another $11.8 million to the take, for a grand total of $43 million.
in BRIT, usually use takings
19 verb If you take a prize or medal, you win it.
`Poison' took first prize at the 1991 Sundance Film Festival... V n
20 verb If you take the blame, responsibility, or credit for something, you agree to accept it.
(=accept)
His brother Raoul did it, but Leonel took the blame and kept his mouth shut... V n
21 verb If you take patients or clients, you accept them as your patients or clients.
Some universities would be forced to take more students than they wanted... V n
22 verb If you take a telephone call, you speak to someone who is telephoning you.
Douglas telephoned Catherine at her office. She refused to take his calls. V n
23 verb If you take something in a particular way, you react in the way mentioned to a situation or to someone's beliefs or behaviour.
Unfortunately, no one took my messages seriously... V n adv/prep
24 verb You use take when you are discussing or explaining a particular question, in order to introduce an example or to say how the question is being considered.
usu imper
(=consider)
There's confusion and resentment, and it's almost never expressed out in the open. Take this office, for example... V n
25 verb If you take someone's meaning or point, you understand and accept what they are saying.
They've turned sensible, if you take my meaning... V n
26 verb If you take someone for something, you believe wrongly that they are that thing.
She had taken him for a journalist... V n for n
I naturally took him to be the owner of the estate. V n to-inf
27 verb If you take something from among a number of things, you choose to have or buy it.
`I'll take the grilled tuna,' Mary Ann told the waiter. V n
28 verb If you take a road or route, you choose to travel along it.
From Wrexham centre take the Chester Road to the outskirts of town... V n prep/adv
The road forked in two directions. He had obviously taken the wrong fork. V n
29 verb If you take a car, train, bus, or plane, you use it to go from one place to another.
It's the other end of the High Street. We'll take the car, shall we?... V n
She took the train to New York every weekend... V n prep/adv
30 verb If you take a subject or course at school or university, you choose to study it.
Students are allowed to take European history and American history. V n
31 verb If you take a test or examination, you do it in order to obtain a qualification.
She took her driving test in Greenford... V n
32 verb If you take someone for a subject, you give them lessons in that subject.
(mainly BRIT)
(=teach)
The teacher who took us for economics was Miss Humphrey. V n for n
33 verb If someone takes drugs, pills, or other medicines, they take them into their body, for example by swallowing them.
She's been taking sleeping pills... V n
34 verb If you take a note or a letter, you write down something you want to remember or the words that someone says.
She sat expressionless, carefully taking notes... V n
35 verb If you take a particular measurement, you use special equipment to find out what something measures.
If he feels hotter than normal, take his temperature. V n
36 verb If a place or container takes a particular amount or number, there is enough space for that amount or number.
no passive
The place could just about take 2,000 people. V amount
37 verb If you take a particular size in shoes or clothes, that size fits you.
47 per cent of women in the UK take a size 16 or above. V n
38 n-count A take is a short piece of action which is filmed in one continuous process for a cinema or television film.
She couldn't get it right<endash>she never knew the lines and we had to do several takes.
39 n-sing Someone's takeon a particular situation or fact is their attitude to it or their interpretation of it.
N on n, usu supp N
(=perspective)
What's your take on the new government? Do you think it can work?...
40 You can say `I take it' to check with someone that what you believe to be the case or what you understand them to mean is in fact the case, or is in fact what they mean.
I take it phrase PHR with cl, oft PHR that
(=I presume)
I take it you're a friend of the Kellings, Mr Burr...
41 You can say `take it from me' to tell someone that you are absolutely sure that what you are saying is correct, and that they should believe you.
take it from me phrase PHR with cl
(=believe me)
Take it from me<endash>this is the greatest achievement by any Formula One driver ever.
42 If you say to someone `take it or leave it', you are telling them that they can accept something or not accept it, but that you are not prepared to discuss any other alternatives.
take it or leave it convention
A 72-hour week, 12 hours a day, six days a week, take it or leave it.
43 If someone takes an insult or attack lying down, they accept it without protesting.
to take sth lying down phrase take inflects
The government is not taking such criticism lying down.
44 If something takes a lot out of you or takes it out of you, it requires a lot of energy or effort and makes you feel very tired and weak afterwards.
to take a lot/it out of sb phrase V inflects, PHR n
He looked tired, as if the argument had taken a lot out of him...
45 If someone tells you to take five or to take ten, they are telling you to have a five or ten minute break from what you are doing.
(mainly AM)
INFORMAL
take five, take ten phrase V inflects
46
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to be taken aback
→
aback
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to take up arms
→
arm
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to take the biscuit
→
biscuit
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to take the bull by the horns
→
bull
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to take your hat off to someone
→
hat
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to take the mickey
→
mickey
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to take the piss out of someone
→
piss
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to take something as read
→
read
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to be taken for a ride
→
ride
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to take someone by surprise
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surprise
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take my word for it
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word take after phrasal verb If you take after a member of your family, you resemble them in your appearance, your behaviour, or your character.
no passive
Ted's always been difficult, Mr Kemp<endash>he takes after his dad. V P n take apart
1 phrasal verb If you take something apart, you separate it into the different parts that it is made of.
(=dismantle)
When the clock stopped, he took it apart, found what was wrong, and put the whole thing together again. V n P
2 phrasal verb If you take apart something such as an argument or an idea, you show what its weaknesses are, usually by analyzing it carefully.
They will take that problem apart and analyze it in great detail... V n P
He proceeds to take apart every preconception anyone might have ever had about him. V P n (not pron) take away
1 phrasal verb If you take something awayfrom someone, you remove it from them, so that they no longer possess it or have it with them.
They're going to take my citizenship away... V n P
`Give me the knife,' he said softly, `or I'll take it away from you.'... V n P from n
In prison they'd taken away his watch and everything he possessed. V P n (not pron)
2 phrasal verb If you take one number or amount awayfrom another, you subtract one number from the other.
(=subtract) (Antonym: add)
Add up the bills for each month. Take this away from the income. V n P from n, Also V P n (not pron), V n P
3 phrasal verb To take someone away means to bring them from their home to an institution such as a prison or hospital.
(=take off)
Two men claiming to be police officers called at the pastor's house and took him away... V n P
Soldiers took away four people one of whom was later released. V P n (not pron)
4
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takeaway take away from phrasal verb If something takes away from an achievement, success, or quality, or takes something away from it, it makes it seem lower in value or worth than it should be.
(=detract)
`It's starting to rain again.'—`Not enough to take away from the charm of the scene.'... V P P n
The victory looks rather hollow. That takes nothing away from the courage and skill of the fighting forces. V n P P n take back
1 phrasal verb If you take something back, you return it to the place where you bought it or where you borrowed it from, because it is unsuitable or broken, or because you have finished with it.
If I buy something and he doesn't like it I'll take it back... V n P
I once took back a pair of shoes that fell apart after a week. V P n (not pron)
2 phrasal verb If you take something back, you admit that something that you said or thought is wrong.
I take it back, I think perhaps I am an extrovert... V n P
Take back what you said about Jeremy! V P n (not pron)
3 phrasal verb If you take someone back, you allow them to come home again, after they have gone away because of a quarrel or other problem.
Why did she take him back?... V n P
The government has agreed to take back those people who are considered economic rather than political refugees. V P n (not pron)
4 phrasal verb If you say that something takes you back, you mean that it reminds you of a period of your past life and makes you think about it again.
I enjoyed experimenting with colours<endash>it took me back to being five years old... V n P to n/-ing
This takes me back. V n P take down
1 phrasal verb If you take something down, you reach up and get it from a high place such as a shelf.
Alberg took the portrait down from the wall... V n P
Gil rose and went to his bookcase and took down a volume. V P n (not pron)
2 phrasal verb If you take down a structure, you remove each piece of it., (Antonym: put up)
The Canadian army took down the barricades erected by the Indians... V P n (not pron)
They put up the bird table, but it got in everyone else's way so Les tried to take it down. V n P
3 phrasal verb If you take down a piece of information or a statement, you write it down.
(=write down)
We've been trying to get back to you, Tom, but we think we took your number down incorrectly... V n P
I took down his comments in shorthand. V P n (not pron) take in
1 phrasal verb If you take someone in, you allow them to stay in your house or your country, especially when they do not have anywhere to stay or are in trouble.
He persuaded Jo to take him in... V n P
The monastery has taken in 26 refugees. V P n (not pron)
2 phrasal verb If the police take someone in, they remove them from their home in order to question them.
The police have taken him in for questioning in connection with the murder of a girl. V n P, Also V P n (not pron)
3 phrasal verb If you are taken inby someone or something, you are deceived by them, so that you get a false impression of them.
I married in my late teens and was taken in by his charm<endash>which soon vanished... be V-ed P
I know I was a naive fool to trust him but he is a real charmer who totally took me in. V n P
4 phrasal verb If you take something in, you pay attention to it and understand it when you hear it or read it.
Lesley explains possible treatments but you can tell she's not taking it in... V n P
Gazing up into his eyes, she seemed to take in all he said. V P n (not pron)
5 phrasal verb If you take something in, you see all of it at the same time or with just one look.
The eyes behind the lenses were dark and quick-moving, taking in everything at a glance. V P n (not pron), Also V n P
6 phrasal verb If you take in something such as a film or a museum, you go to see it.
INFORMAL no passive
I was wondering if you might want to take in a movie with me this evening. V P n (not pron), Also V n P
7 phrasal verb If people, animals, or plants take in air, drink, or food, they allow it to enter their body, usually by breathing or swallowing.
They will certainly need to take in plenty of liquid. V P n (not pron), Also V n P
8 phrasal verb If you take in a dress, jacket, or other item of clothing, you make it smaller and tighter., (Antonym: let out)
She had taken in the grey dress so that it hugged her thin body. V P n (not pron), Also V n P
9 phrasal verb If a store, restaurant, theatre, or other business takes in a certain amount of money, they get that amount from people buying goods or services.
(mainly AM, BUSINESS)
They plan to take in $1.6 billion. V P amount
in BRIT, usually use take take off
1 phrasal verb When an aeroplane takes off, it leaves the ground and starts flying., (Antonym: land)
We eventually took off at 11 o'clock and arrived in Venice at 1.30. V P
2 phrasal verb If something such as a product, an activity, or someone's career takes off, it suddenly becomes very successful.
In 1944, he met Edith Piaf, and his career took off. V P
3 phrasal verb If you take off or takeyourselfoff, you go away, often suddenly and unexpectedly.
He took off at once and headed back to the motel... V P
He took himself off to Mexico. V pron-refl P
4 phrasal verb If you take a garment off, you remove it., (Antonym: put on)
He wouldn't take his hat off... V n P
She took off her spectacles. V P n (not pron)
5 phrasal verb If you take time off, you obtain permission not to go to work for a short period of time.
Mitchel's schedule had not permitted him to take time off... V n P
She took two days off work. V n P n
6 phrasal verb If you take someone off, you make them go with you to a particular place, especially when they do not want to go there.
(=take away)
The police stopped her and took her off to a police station... V n P prep/adv
7 phrasal verb If you take someone off, you imitate them and the things that they do and say, in such a way that you make other people laugh.
(mainly BRIT)
(=mimic)
Mike can take off his father to perfection. V P n (not pron), Also V n P
1 phrasal verb If you take on a job or responsibility, especially a difficult one, you accept it.
No other organisation was able or willing to take on the job... V P n (not pron)
2 phrasal verb If something takes on a new appearance or quality, it develops that appearance or quality.
no passive
(=assume)
Believing he had only a year to live, his writing took on a feverish intensity. V P n (not pron)
3 phrasal verb If a vehicle such as a bus or ship takes on passengers, goods, or fuel, it stops in order to allow them to get on or to be loaded on.
This is a brief stop to take on passengers and water. V P n (not pron)
4 phrasal verb If you take someone on, you employ them to do a job.
He's spoken to a publishing firm. They're going to take him on... V n P
The party has been taking on staff, including temporary organisers. V P n (not pron)
5 phrasal verb If you take someone on, you fight them or compete against them, especially when they are bigger or more powerful than you are.
no passive
Democrats were reluctant to take on a president whose popularity ratings were historically high... V P n (not pron)
I knew I couldn't take him on. V n P
6 phrasal verb If you take something on or uponyourself, you decide to do it without asking anyone for permission or approval.
no passive
Knox had taken it on himself to choose the wine... V it P pron-refl to-inf
He took upon himself the responsibility for protecting her... V P pron-refl n
The President absolved his officers and took the blame upon himself. V n P pron-refl take out
1 phrasal verb If you take something out, you remove it permanently from its place.
I got an abscess so he took the tooth out... V n P
When you edit the tape you can take out the giggles. V P n (not pron)
2 phrasal verb If you take out something such as a loan, a licence, or an insurance policy, you obtain it by fulfilling the conditions and paying the money that is necessary.
They find a house, agree a price, and take out a mortgage through their building society. V P n (not pron)
3 phrasal verb If you take someone out, they go to something such as a restaurant or theatre with you after you have invited them, and usually you pay for them.
Jessica's grandparents took her out for the day... V n P
Reichel took me out to lunch. V n P to n
...a father taking out his daughter for a celebratory dinner. V P n (not pron) take out on phrasal verb If you take something out on someone, you behave in an unpleasant way towards them because you feel angry or upset, even though this is not their fault.
Jane's always annoying her and she takes it out on me sometimes. V n P P n take over
1 phrasal verb If you take over a company, you get control of it, for example by buying its shares. (BUSINESS)
A British newspaper says British Airways plan to take over Trans World Airways. V P n (not pron), Also V n P
2 phrasal verb If someone takes over a country or building, they get control of it by force, for example with the help of the army.
The Belgians took over Rwanda under a League of Nations mandate... V P n (not pron)
3 phrasal verb If you take over a job or role or if you take over, you become responsible for the job after someone else has stopped doing it.
His widow has taken over the running of his empire, including six London theatres... V P n (not pron)
In 1966, Pastor Albertz took over from him as governing mayor... V P from n
She took over as chief executive of the Book Trust. V P
4 phrasal verb If one thing takes over from something else, it becomes more important, successful, or powerful than the other thing, and eventually replaces it.
Cars gradually took over from horses... V P from n
When the final vote came, rationality took over. V P
1 phrasal verb If you take to someone or something, you like them, especially after knowing them or thinking about them for only a short time.
Did the children take to him?... V P n
2 phrasal verb If you take to doing something, you begin to do it as a regular habit.
They had taken to wandering through the streets arm-in-arm. V P -ing take up
1 phrasal verb If you take up an activity or a subject, you become interested in it and spend time doing it, either as a hobby or as a career.
He did not particularly want to take up a competitive sport... V P n (not pron)
Angela used to be a model and has decided to take it up again. V n P
2 phrasal verb If you take up a question, problem, or cause, you act on it or discuss how you are going to act on it.
Most scientists who can present evidence of an environmental threat can reasonably assume that a pressure group will take up the issue... V P n (not pron)
Dr Mahathir intends to take up the proposal with the prime minister... V P n with n
If the bank is unhelpful take it up with the Ombudsman. V n P with n, Also V n P
3 phrasal verb If you take up a job, you begin to work at it.
He will take up his post as the head of the civil courts at the end of next month. V P n (not pron), Also V n P
4 phrasal verb If you take up an offer or a challenge, you accept it.
Increasingly, more wine-makers are taking up the challenge of growing Pinot Noir... V P n (not pron)
5 phrasal verb If something takes up a particular amount of time, space, or effort, it uses that amount.
I know how busy you must be and naturally I wouldn't want to take up too much of your time... V P n (not pron)
A good deal of my time is taken up with reading critical essays and reviews... be V-ed P with -ing/n
The aim was not to take up valuable time with the usual boring pictures. V P n with n/-ing
6 phrasal verb If you take up a particular position, you get into a particular place in relation to something else.
no passive
He had taken up a position in the centre of the room... V P n (not pron)
7 phrasal verb If you take up something such as a task or a story, you begin doing it after it has been interrupted or after someone else has begun it.
Gerry's wife Jo takes up the story... V P n (not pron)
`No, no, no,' says Damon, taking up where Dave left off. V P wh, Also V n P
8
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take-up take up on phrasal verb If you take someone up on their offer or invitation, you accept it.
Since she'd offered to babysit, I took her up on it. V n P P n take upon
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take on 6 take up with phrasal verb If you are taken up with something, it keeps you busy or fully occupied.
His mind was wholly taken up with the question. be V-ed P P n
