take a/its toll

idiom

: to have a serious, bad effect on someone or something : to cause harm or damage
If you keep working so hard, the stress will eventually take its toll.
often + on
Too much sunlight can take a (heavy) toll on your skin.
Her illness has taken a toll on her marriage.

Examples of take a/its toll in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
American tariffs are anticipated to further take a toll on U.S. currency values. Allison Landa, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2025 Bobbi and her siblings did their best to bring her comfort, even as dementia and Parkinson's disease started to take a toll. Maquita Peters, NPR, 11 May 2025 But six or seven games of this type of pounding are going to take a toll. James Mirtle, New York Times, 10 May 2025 Auto tariffs President Trump’s global trade war is starting to take a toll on automakers. Jade Walker, CNN Money, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for take a/its toll

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Take a/its toll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20a%2Fits%20toll. Accessed 31 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!