take on
verb
took on; taken on; taking on; takes on
1
a
: to begin to perform or deal with : undertake
took on new responsibilities
b
: to contend with as an opponent
took on the neighborhood bully
3
a
: to assume or acquire as or as if one's own
the city's plaza takes on a carnival air—
W. T. LeViness
W. T. LeViness
b
: to have as a mathematical domain or range
what values does the function take on
: to show one's feelings especially of grief or anger in a demonstrative way
she cried, and took on like a distracted body—Daniel Defoe
Daniel DefoeExamples of take on in a Sentence
will take on his chief opponent in the next political debate
decided to take her on as store manager
Recent Examples on the Web
The success of the film hinged not only on Craig's new take on the role, but also on Eva Green as his love interest, Vesper Lynd — the rare Bond girl that really could last.
—EW.com, 23 Mar. 2025
Over the course of his long career, magician and endurance performer David Blaine has taken on all kinds of death-defying feats: catching a bullet in his teeth, fasting for 44 days, or holding his breath for a record-breaking 17 minutes and 4 seconds, to name a few.
—Ars Technica, 23 Mar. 2025
After 12 years coaching boys’ basketball and one season as an assistant girls’ coach, Aundre Cummings took on the challenge as the head coach of a talented but young Ontario Christian girls’ basketball team this season.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2025
Be fully engaged, but don’t take on the client's emotional weight.
—Tim Maurer, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take on
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EW.com, 23 Mar. 2025
Over the course of his long career, magician and endurance performer David Blaine has taken on all kinds of death-defying feats: catching a bullet in his teeth, fasting for 44 days, or holding his breath for a record-breaking 17 minutes and 4 seconds, to name a few.
—Ars Technica, 23 Mar. 2025
After 12 years coaching boys’ basketball and one season as an assistant girls’ coach, Aundre Cummings took on the challenge as the head coach of a talented but young Ontario Christian girls’ basketball team this season.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2025
Be fully engaged, but don’t take on the client's emotional weight.
—Tim Maurer, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take on
Cite this Entry
“Take on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20on. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.
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