Take | Mean of take in English Dictionary

/ˈteɪk/

• Verb
• to carry or move (something) to a place
1. She took her things to her room.
2. It looks like rain. You had better take an umbrella with you.
• to carry and give (something) to a person
1. Take this note to your teacher, please. = Take your teacher this note, please.
• to carry, move, or lead (someone) to a place
1. This bus takes you downtown.
2. Her office is down that hallway. I can take you there, if you want me to.
3. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
4. If you're going to the store, would you mind taking me (along) with you?
5. She took us for a ride in her new car.
6. He's not the kind of guy you can take home to meet your parents.
7. I took him aside [=to a place that is away from other people] and told him what had happened.
8. She took her child to one/the side and scolded him.
9. She took her team [=she helped her team go] to the state finals.
10. Her landlord threatened to take her to court. [=to start a lawsuit against her; to sue her]
11. He took me to the cleaners. [=he got most of my money in an unfair way]
12. Here, I brought you some flowers.
13. May I take your luggage to your room for you?

• to begin to hold (someone or something) with your fingers, arms, etc.
1. I took the pen and signed my name.
2. Take the pan by the handle.
3. He took her by the hand.
4. He took her hand and looked into her eyes.
5. She took her son in her arms. [=she put her arms around him]
6. Please, take a free sample.
• to remove (something) from a place, a person's hand, etc.
1. She took the letter (from him) and read it aloud.
2. He took a beer from the fridge.
3. We'll have to take some blood from your arm.
• to get (something)
1. Thieves took [=stole] the painting from the museum several years ago.
2. That man took my purse!
3. We will take [=seize, capture] the city at dawn.
4. Their land had been taken by force.
5. She took [=borrowed] her dad's car without his permission.
6. I accidentally took your jacket instead of mine.
7. Military leaders took control of the government in 2002.
8. I have my pride, and no one can take that (away) from me. [=no one can cause me to lose my pride]
9. I did all the work, and she took the credit. [=she allowed people to believe that she did the work]
• to claim (someone or something) as your own
1. “Excuse me. Is this chair free?” “No, I'm sorry. It's taken.” [=someone else is planning to sit in the chair]
2. (somewhat old-fashioned) She can't be your girlfriend because she's already taken. [=she is already someone else's girlfriend]
• to cause (someone) to be your prisoner
1. They took us as hostages. = They took us hostage.
2. Three soldiers were taken prisoner/captive.
• to cause (someone) to die
1. She was taken [=she died] in her prime.
2. The plane crash took the lives of all the people on board.
3. He took his own life. [=he killed himself]
• to borrow or use (a phrase, an idea, etc., that was created by a different person or used in a different place)
1. a quotation taken from Shakespeare
2. The album's title is taken from [=it is the same as] a line in the album's first song.
3. The builders took their inspiration from [=the builders were inspired by] the Acropolis in Athens.
• to begin to have (a particular shape or form)
1. The college took its present form after World War II.
2. The plan is finally starting to take form/shape. [=to have a definite arrangement]
• to choose to have (something)
1. He'll have the fish and I'll take the chicken.
2. Do you take cream in your coffee?
3. You can have either one. Take your pick. [=choose whichever one you want]
• to accept or receive (something) as payment or as a response
1. Do you take credit cards?
2. an elected official accused of taking bribes
3. (Brit) The restaurant took [=(US) took in] an enormous amount of money in its first week of business.
4. I was hoping they would pay me more, but at this point I'll take what I can get.
5. I insist that you come to my party, and I won't take no for an answer!
• to accept (something, such as blame, credit, or responsibility)
1. I take full responsibility for what happened.
2. No one else was willing to take the blame/rap (for what happened).
3. I did the work and he took all the credit.
• to allow (someone) to join a club, to attend a school, to become part of a relationship, etc.
1. The school takes [=admits] just 20 students a year.
2. The doctor's office is not taking [=accepting] any new patients.
3. (old-fashioned) It is time for you to take a wife/husband. [=to get married]
• to be able to hold (a number of people or things)
1. I think the elevator will take a few more people.
• to need or require (something)
1. What size shoe do you take?
2. It took four people to move the couch.
3. What would it take to get you to buy this car?
4. It will take several years to finish the bridge. = The bridge will take several years to finish.
5. Do you have what it takes [=do you have the skills and personality] to do this job?
6. The new color is nice, but it'll take some getting used to. [=I will need to get used to it]
7. Be patient. These things take (a lot of) time. [=a lot of time needs to pass before they happen or are finished]
8. Keeping everyone happy does take a lot of doing. = It takes some doing. [=it requires a lot of work]
• to do or perform (something)
1. Let's take a walk. [=let's walk]
2. He's taking a shower [=he's showering] upstairs.
3. Take a look/peek/gander at this.
4. How old do you think I am? Take a guess.
5. The kids take their naps around one o'clock.
6. He took a bite of his sandwich.
7. Take a deep breath and try to calm down.
8. We are taking a tour of the building tomorrow.
9. They took a pledge never to tell anyone their secret.
10. It's time for you to take a stand [=to express your opinion] and tell them that things need to change.
• to get (a drug, pill, etc.) into your body by swallowing it, breathing it in, etc.
1. Take one of these pills in the morning and one before bedtime.
2. She refuses to take her medicine.
3. She stopped taking drugs [=she stopped using illegal drugs] years ago.
• to sit or stand in (a particular place)
1. Please take a seat. [=please sit down]
2. I took my place next to her at the table.
3. The actors took their places on the stage.
4. They took the stage for their final bow.
5. The home team is now taking the field.
6. Will the next witness please take the stand?
7. She took the witness stand.
8. The senator from Nevada would now like to take the floor. [=to begin speaking at a public meeting]
• to create or record (a picture or image)
1. She took our picture in front of the waterfall.
2. Our new camera takes beautiful pictures.
3. The doctor wants to take an X-ray of your leg.
4. They arrested him and took his fingerprints.
• to find out (a person's temperature, height, etc.)
1. The last time we took his temperature, it was 102 degrees.
2. The nurse weighed me and took my blood pressure.
3. Before the seamstress can make your dress, she has to take your measurements.
• to find out and write down (information)
1. He took my name and number and said he would call me back.
• to create (a list or a record of information)
1. I can't come to class today. Would you mind taking notes for me?
2. The census we took last year shows that our population is growing very rapidly.
3. We took an inventory at the store yesterday to find out what we need to order.
• to travel using (a road, vehicle, etc.)
1. We took the highway into the city.
2. She had to take a different route home.
3. He takes the subway to work.
• to turn toward (a particular direction)
1. Take a right [=turn right] at the next stop light.
2. Take your first left and go straight for a mile.
3. We took a wrong turn [=went the wrong way; turned in the wrong direction] and got lost.
• to move on or over (something) in a particular way
1. He took the stairs [=went up/down the stairs] two at a time.
2. She took the curve too fast and the car skidded.
• to agree to do or have (a job, role, etc.)
1. He took a job as a janitor at the high school.
2. She hasn't decided if she is going to take the position or not.
3. I took a few overtime shifts this month.
4. He took the role of Romeo in the play.
5. She says that parents should be taking a more active role in their children's education. [=should be more actively involved in their children's education]
6. The former governor took office [=became governor] in 1998.
7. She was the first woman to take her seat [=to begin her official duties as a member] in Parliament.
• to teach (a person or class) or lead (a religious service)
1. The new teacher took us for English.
2. She took a class of eight children.
3. The vicar won't be able to take the early service.
• to study (a subject) or participate in (a class) as a student
1. Her parents made her take piano lessons when she was 10.
2. He takes both French and Spanish.
3. I took five classes last semester.
4. I'm taking a course on world history.
• to complete (a test or exam)
1. If you fail the first time, you have to take the test again.
• to use or need (something) in order to work
1. What size batteries does the flashlight take?
2. a car that takes diesel
• to use (something) for a particular purpose
1. The team's coaches decided to take another approach.
2. Let me take this opportunity to thank everyone for coming.
3. Harsh measures were taken to reduce crime in the city.
4. I suggest you take his advice.
5. They never took the time [=bothered] to get to know her.
• to accept (the power to deal with something)
1. She was chosen to take charge/control of the organization.
2. I'll get you started, and you take it [=take over] from there.
3. Citizens are discouraged from taking the law into their own hands. [=punishing people for breaking laws even though they have no right to punish them]
• to make (a decision) with authority
1. The committee will take [=make] their decision next week.
• to deal with or consider (something)
1. The governor will give a statement and then take questions from reporters.
2. Will you take this call?
3. Cases will be taken in order of importance.
4. Let's take first things first.
5. We'll see what happens and take it as it comes.
6. I'll need a long time to recover, so I'm just taking (it) one day at a time.
• to understand or think about (something or someone) in a certain way
1. I don't quite know how to take that comment.
2. He said that I was full-figured, and I took it as a compliment.
3. No one took her literally/seriously when she said that she was going to quit.
4. He takes himself too seriously.
5. He says unkind things to everyone. Try not to take it personally. [=to be offended or upset by what he said]
6. Don't take this the wrong way [=do not be offended by this], but I think you could find a better boyfriend.
7. When it started to rain, we took it as a sign [=we believed that the rain was a sign] that we should go home.
8. Can't you take a hint? [=understand that I am trying to give you a hint?]
9. I take it [=(more formally) assume, suppose] that you didn't get my message.
10. So, you're staying here, I take it.
11. I know it's just gossip, so I take it for what it's worth. [=I do not strongly believe that it is true or important]
• to react to (someone or something) in a certain way
1. I was surprised by how well she took the news.
2. He took it pretty badly/hard [=he was very upset] when his dog died.
3. She doesn't take such things lightly. [=she acts as though such things are very important]
• to think about (something or someone) as an example
1. They just want attention. For instance, take the way they wear their hair.
2. Take last year's record high temperatures, for example.
3. The system isn't working properly. Take the case of Jane Smith.
• to think of (someone or something) as a particular type of person or thing
1. Oh, you're not Jill. Excuse me. I took you for [=mistakenly thought you were] an old friend of mine.
2. Of course we know how to do it. Do you take us for idiots? [=do you think we are idiots?]
3. “Can you finish everything in two hours?” “Two hours?! Who do you take me for? Superman?” [=do you think I'm Superman?]
• to believe (something that someone tells you)
1. Take it from me. [=believe me] He would love to go to the concert with you.
2. Okay, I'll take your word for it. [=I will believe that what you say is true]
3. You don't have to take my word for it. Ask him yourself.
4. She can't take a compliment. [=she does not believe that the nice things said about her are true]
• to begin to have (an opinion, interest, etc.)
1. She has yet to take a position on the issue.
2. The program inspires young people to take an interest [=become interested] in current events.
3. They take a dim view [=have a negative opinion] of the country's current foreign policy.
4. She took a dim view of his behavior.
• to ask people to make choices or give opinions in (a vote, poll, etc.)
1. They took a survey of shoppers to find out which brands people liked best.
2. I think we should take a vote [=should vote] about what to do.
• to feel or experience (an emotion)
1. Please don't take offense. [=please don't be offended]
2. Investors took fright [=suddenly became afraid] at the news and pulled their money.
3. His grandparents took special pleasure in [=were very pleased by] seeing him graduate from college.
4. It's important to take pride in your work.
5. I take comfort/solace in the fact that others have had to go through the same thing.
6. She takes an instant dislike to [=she instantly dislikes] anyone who tries to sell her something.
• to experience or be affected by (something unpleasant)
1. Everyone will have to take a pay cut.
2. She had to take a two-stroke penalty.
3. The ship sunk after taking [=sustaining] a direct hit.
4. He took several punches to the head.
5. He took quite a beating.
6. “Take that,” she said as she slapped him in the face.
• to experience (something bad or unpleasant) without being seriously harmed
1. These shoes have taken [=withstood] a lot of punishment.
2. These plants can't take [=tolerate] the cold.
3. You no longer have to take [=endure] the pain of arthritis.
4. What happens next? I can't take the suspense.
5. I can't take this noise anymore!
• to accept the difficulty or unpleasantness of (something or someone) without complaining or making changes
1. I wouldn't take [=tolerate] that kind of rudeness from anyone.
2. I'm not going to take it anymore!
3. Are you just going to sit there and take it?
4. Don't take it lying down. Do something about it.
5. I thought she would be upset, but she's taking it in stride. [=not upset about it]
6. Stop crying and take it like a man.
7. I wasn't being serious. Can't you take a joke? [=can't you laugh at a joke that is about you?]
8. He's a little hard to take sometimes. [=he is sometimes a little rude, annoying, etc.]
• to become known by (someone) in a certain way
1. Her reaction took me by surprise. [=surprised me]
2. The latest band taking the country by storm [=quickly becoming very popular throughout the country] is a Swedish group.
• to be liked or enjoyed by (someone)
1. He was quite taken with her at their first meeting.
2. None of us was completely taken with the idea of staying there for an entire month.
3. The critic was so taken by the restaurant that she gave it four stars out of a possible five.
• to be the cause of (damage, suffering, etc.)
1. She vowed to take (her) revenge against him.
2. She swore that she would take vengeance on him.
3. The storm took its toll. [=the storm did a lot of damage]
4. A war could take a terrible toll on the economy.
• to win or get (something) in a game, contest, etc.
1. She sang well enough to take first prize in her high school's talent contest.
2. He took second place behind last year's winner.
3. They took an 8–6 lead in the seventh inning.
4. The number 20 car took the lead with one lap to go.
5. They took home [=won] the championship for the third year in a row.
6. Let's play one more round. Winner takes all. [=the winner of this round will win the whole contest]
• to beat or defeat (someone) in a game, fight, etc.
1. She took her opponent in the second round.
2. He's not that big. I think I can take him.
• to cause (someone or something) to move to a particular level or area of activity
1. They decided to take the company public. [=to offer the public the opportunity to buy stock in the company]
2. Are you ready to take your business to the next level?
3. When taken to extremes, their philosophy can have negative consequences.
• to go to a safe or calm place for (shelter, cover, etc.)
1. If it rains, we can take shelter in the clubhouse.
2. Here come the bombers! Take cover!
3. a quiet place to take refuge
• to be effective or become established
1. Clearly, the lesson he had tried to teach them didn't take. [=they didn't learn the lesson]
2. We are waiting to see if the heart transplant takes.
• to be able to have (something) when treated in a particular way
1. a surface that takes a fine/high polish
• to appear or be used with (something)
1. Transitive verbs take an object while intransitive verbs do not.
2. Most words that end in “sh,” such as “brush” and “wish,” take “es” in their plural forms.
• to surprise or shock (someone)
1. When I told him my answer, he seemed taken aback. [=shocked]
2. He was taken aback by her answer.
• to do something
1. The committee is ready to take action.
2. If we fail to take action [=fail to act], many innocent people could be hurt.
3. She is threatening to take legal action against the company. [=threatening to sue the company]
• to be like (someone, such as a parent)
1. He takes after his father in height and build.
2. “She's such a sweet child.” “Yes. She takes after her mother.”
• to begin to dislike (someone or something)
1. They took against her for no apparent reason.
• to remove or separate the parts of (something)
1. They practiced taking apart [=disassembling] their rifles and putting them back together again.
2. Help me take this puzzle apart.
• to talk about the different parts of (an idea, story, etc.) often in order to criticize it
1. He takes apart the theory and shows its weaknesses.
• to badly beat (a person or team) in a game or contest
1. The champion really took the challenger apart in the second round.
• to remove (someone or something)
1. “Take him away!” said the queen.
2. He was trying to take the ball away from the dog.
3. A new store would take business away from existing stores in the area.
4. Her parents threatened to take away her driving privileges.
5. If you take away [=if you do not consider] his fancy clothes, he's a rather ordinary person.
6. The beautiful new theater took my breath away. [=it made me feel surprised and excited]
• to remember (something) for possible use in the future
1. What lesson can we take away from this?
• to buy (food that is cooked in a restaurant) and carry it to another place
1. We sell hot food to take away. [=(US) we sell hot food for takeout]
• to start playing or singing music
1. Take it away, Annie!
• to reduce the value or importance of (something)
1. The ugly door takes away from [=detracts from] the beauty of the house.
2. She made a few mistakes during her speech, but that didn't take away from her overall message.
• to return (something or someone)
1. If you bought any of these toys, take them back to the store for a full refund.
2. Waiter, this soup is terrible. Please take it back. [=return it to the kitchen]
3. I took him back to his apartment.
• to accept or receive (someone or something) again
1. They wouldn't take back the dress because I didn't have the receipt.
2. His wife left him but he decided to take her back.
• to cause (someone) to remember a time or event
1. This meal takes me back to [=it makes me remember] our vacation in Mexico.
2. a song that takes you back to your childhood
• to say that you did not really mean (something that you said)
1. My mom is not fat! Take it back!
2. He refused to take back what he said.
• to remove (something) from the place where it is hanging or standing
1. She took the books down from the shelf.
2. I need to take down those curtains and bring them to the dry cleaner's.
3. Take down that terrible picture of me.
4. Please, take it down.
5. He took down the old shed and built a new one.
• to lower but not remove (something)
1. The doctor asked him to take down [=pull down] his pants.
• to write (something)
1. He took her phone number down on a napkin.
2. Did you take down the car's license number?
• to allow (a person or animal) to stay in your house, hotel, etc.
1. The family started taking in boarders to make ends meet.
2. The homeless shelter takes in women and children.
3. They agreed to take him in for the summer.
4. taking in stray cats
• to take (someone) to a police station
1. The police took him in for driving while drunk.
2. The suspects were taken in for questioning.
• to trick or deceive (someone)
1. He was taken in by a man who said he was collecting money for a charity.
• to make (a piece of clothing) smaller or shorter
1. I lost weight and had to take in my pants.
2. I had to take them in at the waist.
• to receive (something) as payment or earnings
1. The restaurant has been taking in [=(Brit) taking] thousands of dollars a night.
2. They couldn't take enough money in to stay in business.
• to allow (water, air, etc.) to enter your body
1. She stood on the shore taking in the salty sea air.
• to look at and think about (something)
1. We spent the hour talking and taking in the view.
2. You'll have plenty of time to take in all the sights.
• to learn about and try to understand (something)
1. We paused to take in the situation.
2. It's hard to take all this information in at once.
3. We need to take in all the options before making a decision.
• to watch (a show, game, etc.)
1. If we have time after dinner, I thought maybe we could take in a movie.
• to include (a place) among the places that you go to
1. Our trip to New York City will take in several museums. = We will take in [=visit] several museums on our trip to New York City.
• to do something that needs to be done even though no one has asked you to do it
1. Thank you for taking it upon yourself to organize the meeting.
• to require or use a long amount of time
1. It didn't take long to realize that something was wrong.
2. Hurry up. You're taking too long.
3. What's taking so long?
• to notice or pay attention to something
1. The news made them sit up and take notice. [=suddenly give full attention to something]
2. She took note of [=noted] the exact time.
3. No one remembers taking notice of her [=no one remembers noticing her] at the party.
• to suddenly go somewhere
1. She took off without even saying goodbye.
2. Where did you take off to? [=where did you go?]
• to start to move quickly in order to catch (someone or something)
1. If my dog sees a cat, she'll take off after [=chase] it.
2. He jumped in his car and took off after them.
• to begin to fly
1. Please sit down. The plane's about to take off.
2. They took off and landed safely.
• to quickly become very successful or popular
1. Her career took off after she won an Oscar for best supporting actress.
2. Our business is really starting to take off.
• to remove (something)
1. I took my boots off and put on some slippers.
2. Always take off your makeup before going to bed.
3. Take that smile off your face! [=stop smiling]
4. This new diet will take inches off your waist and hips.
5. Please take your hands off me. [=stop touching or holding me]
6. I can't take my eyes off [=I cannot stop looking at] that beautiful ring of yours!
7. Hiring more teachers would help take the pressure off [=reduce the amount of stress felt by] our staff.
8. Her show was taken off the air [=it was no longer shown on TV] after three seasons.
9. The toy was taken off the market [=it was stopped from being sold] for safety reasons.
• to reduce the price of something by (a specified amount)
1. You can take 20 percent off everything in the store.
2. They took $3,000 off the original price of the car.
• to spend (an amount of time) away from a job or activity
1. He took the day off and went to the beach.
2. I took two weeks off (work) to visit my family.
3. I haven't taken any time off yet this year.
• to tell (someone) to stop using (something, such as a medicine)
1. The doctor took her off the drug and put her on a new one.
2. He took himself off his medication. [=he stopped using it]
3. taking a patient off a ventilator
• to tell (someone) to no longer work on (something)
1. The newspaper's editor took her off the story.
2. He was taken off the project.
• to copy (someone) usually in order to make other people laugh
1. He can take off [=mimic, imitate] our teacher perfectly.
• to begin to deal with (something, such as a job or responsibility)
1. I don't have time to take on any new responsibilities right now.
2. We are depending on you to take on this important assignment.
3. Her willingness to take on new challenges is admirable.
• to begin to have (a particular quality or appearance)
1. Her writings took on new meaning after her death.
2. In the evening, the plaza takes on a different air/aura.
3. stories in which animals take on human attributes
4. The story was broadcast throughout the world and began to take on a life of its own. [=to become very large, important, and hard to control]
5. The story has taken on mythic proportions. [=it has become very famous or important]
• to fight or struggle with (someone or something)
1. Police have been taking on the neighborhood's drug dealers.
2. She's not afraid to take on her critics/detractors directly.
3. They will need lots of money and resources to take on the tobacco companies.
4. She takes on the country's current foreign policy in her new book.
5. taking on sexism in the music industry
• to compete against (a person, team, etc.)
1. The Yankees are set to take on the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium tonight.
2. She took him on in a game of tennis.
• to allow (someone or something) to enter
1. The train took on a few more passengers before leaving the city.
2. The ship sprung a leak and began to take on water. [=water began getting into the ship]
• to accept (someone) as an employee, client, etc.
1. I'm sorry, but the doctor isn't taking on [=taking] any new patients.
2. She agreed to take him on as an assistant.
• to remove (something) from a thing, place, or person
1. She had her tonsils taken out when she was ten years old.
2. Remove the board and take out all the nails.
3. Please take out a pencil and begin the test.
4. Please take your homework out.
5. I forgot to take out the garbage [=to bring it outside] this morning.
• to get (something, such as insurance, a loan, etc.) by a standard process or series of steps
1. All drivers in the state must take out insurance on their vehicles.
2. They had to take out a second mortgage on their home.
3. They took out ads in several magazines and newspapers.
• to borrow or rent (something) from a store, library, etc.
1. She took out a couple of books from the library.
• to destroy (something)
1. Our mission is to take out two enemy targets.
2. She swerved off the road and took out a telephone pole.
• to go with (someone you have invited) to a restaurant, party, etc.
1. Can I take you out sometime?
2. teenagers taking each other out on dates
3. They took us out for/to lunch.
• to cause (a person or team) to no longer be part of a competition
1. He took his opponent out in the first 60 seconds of the match.
2. Our team was taken out in the second round of competition.
• to start doing (something that someone has stopped doing)
1. Here, you take over stirring the soup while I start making the salad.
2. Take over for me for a while.
• to become the person who has control of (something)
1. Since she has taken over the company, productivity and profits have soared.
2. Military leaders took over the government in 2002.
3. They took over in 2002.
• to agree with or support one person or group and not another
1. She refuses to take sides on the issue.
2. When my sister and I fight, our dad always takes her side.
3. Why do you always take her side?
4. The government responded by taking the side of the consumer.
• to tell (someone) how (something) happens or is done by explaining the details of each step
1. I asked him to take [=lead, walk] me through his daily exercise regimen.
2. Take me through that day hour by hour. [=tell me what happened each hour of that day]
• to go to or into (a place)
1. They grabbed their weapons and took to the hills.
2. Thousands of people took to the streets in protest. [=went out into the streets to protest]
3. He took to the airwaves [=he spoke on the radio] with his message.
• to begin to like (someone or something)
1. I took to her as soon as she smiled at me.
2. Many students have not taken well to the new school uniforms.
3. He tried skiing and took to it immediately. [=he quickly learned how to ski and liked doing it]
4. She took to horseback riding like a duck (takes) to water. [=she learned it in a very easy and natural way]
5. (informal) They don't take kindly to strangers [=they don't like strangers] around here.
• to begin (doing something) as a habit
1. He took to drinking after he lost his job.
2. She had taken to sleeping on the floor.
3. We've taken to calling him “Mr. Dependable.”
• to use (something) to do something to (someone or something)
1. Someone needs to take a mop to this floor. [=someone needs to mop this floor]
2. I took an ax to the dead tree in front of my house. [=I cut down the dead tree with an ax]
3. He was criticized for taking a belt to his children. [=hitting his children with a belt]
• to begin (something) again
1. She took up [=picked up] the story where he left off.
2. He is hoping that he and his ex-girlfriend can take up [=that they can continue their relationship] where they left off.
• to fill (an area, amount of time, etc.) completely or almost completely
1. The new couch takes up half of the room.
2. I don't want to take up too much of your time, but I do have a few questions.
3. The entire day was taken up by/with meetings.
4. We don't use this table for anything. It's just taking up space.
• to begin studying or practicing (an activity, subject, instrument, etc.) usually as a hobby
1. I was thinking about taking up skiing/dancing/photography.
2. She took up the guitar at age 11.
3. taking up art lessons
• to begin to deal with (a problem, an issue, etc.)
1. The cause of global warming has been taken up by many celebrities recently.
2. The court took up the question of how to deal with companies that break the law.
3. He seemed willing to take up [=take on] the challenge.
• to begin to have (a new job, home, etc.)
1. He will take up his post [=begin working at his new post/job] at the beginning of the year.
2. She went to France and took up residence in Paris. [=became a resident of Paris; began living in Paris]
3. She took up [=she began to lead] the life of an artist. = She took up life as an artist.
4. Two men with guns had taken up (their) positions on the roof.
• to begin to use (something)
1. They took up hammers and nails and went to work building the house.
2. Once again, they took up arms [=picked up weapons and became ready to fight] to defend their country.
• to make (something, such as a piece of clothing) shorter
1. Can you take the legs of these pants up two inches?
• to lift and remove (something)
1. We took up the carpet in the living room and replaced it with hardwood flooring.
• to gather (money, clothes, etc.) from many different people or places
1. They are taking up a collection for the homeless shelter.
• to make an agreement with (someone) to accept (an offer)
1. “Can I buy you a drink?” “Sure, I'll take you up on that.”
2. We took the company up on its offer to replace the computer for free.
• to talk about (something, such as a problem) with (someone)
1. If you have a problem, please take it up with one of our managers.
2. Have you taken this up with your mother yet?
• to begin a friendly or romantic relationship with (someone)
1. After her divorce, she took up with a younger man.
• Noun
• the way that a particular person thinks about or understands something
1. What's your take on what happened? [=what do you think about what happened?]
2. I had a different take on the experience.
3. She has an unusual take on life.
• a particular way of dealing with or treating something
1. Audiences seem to be enjoying the film's modern take on Dickens' famous story.
2. a new take on an old problem
• a scene that is filmed or a song that is recorded at one time without stopping
1. It took us 20 takes to get the scene right.
2. She nailed it on the first take.
• the amount of money that is earned or received
1. He stands to earn 10 percent of the company's $1 million take on the deal.
• a share or percentage of an amount of money
1. She was expecting a bigger take.
• illegally taking money for doing favors for someone
1. We've heard rumors that the senator is on the take.