take

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/teɪk/
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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.

Examples

  • Saturday was the cafe's biggest take of the month.
  • The box office take was huge that weekend.
  • The party took control of the council.
  • They took the silence as a refusal.
  • That scene needed six takes.

Similar words

deduct
accept
win
attempt
carry
have
takings
take away
consume
minus

Meanings

Get hold of something

verb
everyday
neutral
To get something into the hand, possession, or care, including accepting what is offered or removing it from a place.

Examples

  • She took the keys from the hook.
  • He takes every opportunity that comes his way.
  • Someone took my umbrella by mistake.
  • Please take a brochure from the table.
  • The manager offered her the role, and she took it.
  • The child took my hand before crossing the road.

Similar words

Move or guide to another place

verb
travel
neutral
To carry, lead, or accompany someone or something from one place to another.

Examples

  • I will take the package to the post office.
  • She took her parents to the clinic.
  • The bus takes passengers into the city center.
  • He took the dog outside after dinner.
  • A guide took us through the old castle.
  • Could you take these plates back to the kitchen?

Similar words

Choose or use a way of going

verb
travel
neutral
To use a vehicle, route, path, or option in order to get somewhere or proceed.

Examples

  • We took the train to Manchester.
  • Take the first road on the right.
  • She takes the bus to work every morning.
  • They took a shortcut through the park.
  • I usually take the stairs instead of the lift.
  • Which route did you take home?

Similar words

Need time, effort, or material

verb
everyday
neutral
To require a certain amount of time, effort, skill, space, or material.

Examples

  • The repair took two hours.
  • It takes courage to apologize.
  • This recipe takes four cloves of garlic.
  • The course takes three years to complete.
  • The suitcase takes up too much space.
  • A transitive verb takes a direct object.

Similar words

Do or undergo an action

verb
everyday
neutral
To perform or experience an action named by a following noun, such as a test, break, walk, lesson, or risk.

Examples

  • She took a short walk after dinner.
  • The team took a break at noon.
  • He took a deep breath before speaking.
  • They took a risk by launching early.
  • I took a French lesson on Tuesday.
  • The students took the final exam in May.

Similar words

Consume food, drink, or medicine

verb
health
neutral
To swallow, drink, or use a medicine, drug, food, or dose.

Examples

  • Take two tablets with water.
  • She takes insulin every morning.
  • He took a sip of tea.
  • The patient took the full dose.
  • Do not take this medicine on an empty stomach.
  • They took drugs before the race.

Similar words

Understand or respond to something

verb
communication
neutral
To understand, interpret, accept, or react to words, events, or treatment in a particular way.

Examples

  • Do not take the comment personally.
  • She took the joke the wrong way.
  • I take your point, but I still disagree.
  • He takes criticism badly.
  • They took the silence as a refusal.
  • The warning took us by surprise.

Similar words

Record, measure, or capture

verb
information
neutral
To write down, measure, or capture information, images, readings, or details.

Examples

  • I took notes during the lecture.
  • The nurse took my blood pressure.
  • She took a photo of the sunset.
  • The assistant took my name at the door.
  • They took measurements before cutting the wood.
  • The reporter took down every word.

Similar words

Win, capture, or gain control

verb
competition
neutral
To win, capture, seize, or gain control of a prize, place, person, or advantage.

Examples

  • The rebels took the town at dawn.
  • Her roses took first prize at the show.
  • The champion took the lead in the final lap.
  • Police took three suspects into custody.
  • The visitors took the first set.
  • The party took control of the council.

Similar words

Subtract or remove from an amount

verb
math
neutral
To remove one number, amount, or part from another.

Examples

  • If you take four from twelve, you get eight.
  • Take ten percent off the total.
  • The fee takes five dollars from each payment.
  • We took the discount from the final price.
  • Take away the tax before comparing the figures.
  • The editor took three paragraphs out of the draft.

Similar words

Begin to grow or work successfully

verb
biology
neutral
To start growing, settling, or working as intended after being planted, applied, or introduced.

Examples

  • The graft took within a few weeks.
  • Only half the seedlings took in the dry soil.
  • The dye took better on cotton than on nylon.
  • The treatment finally took after the second dose.
  • The new routine finally took in the office.
  • If the cutting takes, it will root by spring.

Similar words

Opinion or interpretation

noun
media
neutral
A view, interpretation, or version of something, especially one that shows a particular attitude.

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.

Similar words

Filmed or recorded attempt

noun
film
neutral
One attempt at filming, recording, or performing a scene, song, or spoken line.

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.

Similar words

Money received

noun
business
neutral
The amount of money received from sales, tickets, fees, or another 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.

Similar words

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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