take time
idiom
1
: to need or require time to happen or be done
You have to be patient. Things like this take time.
It may take some time for the medication to wear off.
The meeting won't take too much time.
This job is easy and will take no time at all.
2
or take the time
: to use an amount of time in order to do something important
They never took the time to get to know her.
I took some time to think about it, and my answer is still "no."
Examples of take time in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This will take time and may impact the mission's timeline, which would have seen Rosalind Franklin head to Mars in 2028.
—
Robert Lea, Space.com, 12 June 2025
But this could take time, especially because Pagliocca also is considering the potential of courting European players who will be available after the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025
But receiving federal approval and scaling up production will take time.
—Calif.
senior Correspondent, Time, 12 June 2025
Western Conference contention probably will take time, but quick reversals are not uncommon.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for take time
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Robert Lea, Space.com, 12 June 2025
But this could take time, especially because Pagliocca also is considering the potential of courting European players who will be available after the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025
But receiving federal approval and scaling up production will take time.
—Calif.
senior Correspondent, Time, 12 June 2025
Western Conference contention probably will take time, but quick reversals are not uncommon.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for take time
Cite this Entry
“Take time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20time. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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