A highly flexible word for getting, moving, using, requiring, doing, interpreting, recording, winning, subtracting, and several noun uses such as an opinion, a filmed attempt, or money received.
A view, interpretation, or version of something, especially one that shows a particular attitude.
Usage
Use take as a noun in phrases such as my take, hot take, and a new take on something.
Examples
What is your take on the new policy?
Her take on the film was unusually generous.
The chef offered a fresh take on classic pasta.
That is a bold take, but it needs evidence.
His latest column gives a political take on the trial.
The remake is a darker take on the old story.
Common mistakes
It is often confused with opinion in formal contexts where take sounds too casual.
Incorrect
Correct
What is your take about the proposal?
What is your take on the proposal?
The report gives a take of the data.
The report gives an interpretation of the data.
This is my taking on the issue.
This is my take on the issue.
Similar words
opinion
view
interpretation
angle
perspective
version
Filmed or recorded attempt
noun
film
neutral
One attempt at filming, recording, or performing a scene, song, or spoken line.
Usage
Use take for each recorded attempt, especially in film, television, music, and voice work.
Examples
The director asked for one more take.
That scene needed six takes.
The first take had background noise.
Her vocal take sounded warm and clear.
They kept the final take for the album.
The actor laughed halfway through the take.
Common mistakes
The noun is sometimes mixed up with scene, which is the material being recorded rather than the attempt.
Incorrect
Correct
The actor needed ten scenes to get the line right.
The actor needed ten takes to get the line right.
We recorded another taking.
We recorded another take.
That take were perfect.
That take was perfect.
Similar words
attempt
recording
shot
version
run-through
Money received
noun
business
neutral
The amount of money received from sales, tickets, fees, or another activity.
Usage
Use take mainly for the total money brought in by an event, show, shop, or business activity.
Examples
The box office take was huge that weekend.
Saturday was the cafe's biggest take of the month.
The promoter counted the night's take after the show.
Online sales lifted the weekly take.
The stall's take barely covered the fee.
A rainy day reduced the fair's take.
Common mistakes
It is often confused with profit, which is what remains after costs.
Incorrect
Correct
The box office profit was huge before expenses.
The box office take was huge before expenses.
The shop had a big take of customers.
The shop had a big take in sales.
Their take were higher on Saturday.
Their take was higher on Saturday.
Similar words
receipts
takings
revenue
proceeds
intake
Usage
Read the noun that follows take closely, because it often decides whether the word means get, move, use, require, perform, interpret, record, or win.
Common mistakes
Taked is wrong for the past tense, bring is needed for movement toward the speaker, and many fixed pairings such as take a break must be learned as whole phrases.
Etymology
From Middle English taken, borrowed from a Scandinavian source related to Old Norse taka, meaning to grasp or seize, which displaced much of Old English niman.
FAQ
What does take mean?
Take can mean get, hold, move, use, require, perform, interpret, record, win, subtract, or name a noun such as an opinion or filmed attempt.
What are the past forms of take?
The past tense is took and the past participle is taken.
Is take a verb or a noun?
Take is both. As a verb it has many everyday uses, and as a noun it can mean an opinion, a recorded attempt, or money received.
What is the difference between take and bring?
Take usually moves something away from the speaker or toward another place, while bring moves it toward the speaker or listener.
What does take a break mean?
Take a break means to stop an activity for a short rest.
What does take medicine mean?
Take medicine means to swallow or use a dose of medicine as directed.
What does take mean in that takes time?
It means the activity requires that amount of time.
What does my take mean?
My take means my opinion, view, or interpretation of something.
What is a take in film?
A take is one recorded attempt at filming or performing a scene, line, or song.
What is a common mistake with take?
Taked is a common wrong past form. The correct forms are took and taken.
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