Meaning of take in English

take

verb

/teɪk/ us

/teɪk/

took | taken

take verb (REMOVE)

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B1 [ T ]

to remove something, especially without permission:

Has anything been taken (= stolen)?

Here's your pen - I took it by mistake.

be taken from All her possessions had been taken from her.

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

to steal something

stealI caught him trying to steal my bike.
takeSomeone took their car from outside the house.
shopliftHe was caught shoplifting by a security guard.
robHe robbed a bank.
burgleUK When she got home from work, she discovered that her house had been burgled.
pilferEmployees pilfering paper, pens, etc. can cost employers a lot.

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Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

to take something somewhere

takeAre you allowed to take your phone to school?
bringCould someone bring me a cup of coffee?
takeSomeone's taken my pen.
removeCan someone please remove this ugly plant?
take awayWhen you've finished your meal, the waiter takes the plates away.
take outShe opened her bag and took out a small notebook.

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B2 [ T ]

to subtract a number (= remove it from another number):

take something (away) from something If you take 4 (away) from 12 you get 8.

See also

take something away (CALCULATE)

More examplesFewer examples

"Did you take any money out of my purse?" "Certainly not!"
When they got divorced, his wife took everything.
They took blood and urine specimens for analysis.
OK, very funny - who took my clothes?
If anyone found out that I took the money, I'd die of shame.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Taking things away from someone or somewhere

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Addition, subtraction, multiplication & division

take verb (MOVE)

A1 [ T ]

to move something or someone from one place to another:

take something (with someone) The weather forecast said rain, so take your umbrella (with you) when you go out.

be taken to The suitcases were taken to San Antonio by mistake.

Take the book up/down to the third floor of the library.

[ + two objects ] I suggested that he should take her some chocolates/take some chocolates to her (= bring them to her as a present).

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

to take something somewhere

takeAre you allowed to take your phone to school?
bringCould someone bring me a cup of coffee?
takeSomeone's taken my pen.
removeCan someone please remove this ugly plant?
take awayWhen you've finished your meal, the waiter takes the plates away.
take outShe opened her bag and took out a small notebook.

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More examplesFewer examples

Take the vase off the shelf.
Could you take this letter to John, please?
I took some food from the table.
I took some of the flowers for Mrs Bright.
I took several books with me for the journey.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Transferring and transporting objects

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take verb (ACCEPT)

B1 [ T ]

to accept or have:

Do they take credit cards here?

This container will take (= has room for) six litres.

UK Which newspaper do you take (= regularly buy)?

He continually abuses her, and she just sits there and takes it.

take something lying down If you think I'm going to take that lying down (= accept it without complaining), you're very much mistaken.

take the/your point I take the/your point (= accept the argument), but I still don't think you should have gone.

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

to accept something that is offered

acceptThey were charged with accepting illegal contributions.
takeShe offered him the job and he took it.
say yes (to)I asked him to marry me and he said yes.
take someone up onThank you – I’d like to take you up on your offer.

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Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

to take something from someone

takeHe offered her the microphone but she wouldn't take it.
take hold ofGet ready to take hold of the baton as the next runner approaches.
snatchHe snatched the letter out of my hands before I could read it.
stealThe car was stolen from right outside our house.
pinchA thief pinched his wallet and phone.
seizeFederal agents seized two computers.

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[ T ]

used when you want to mention something as a particular example of what you are talking about:

I've been very busy recently. Take last week, I had meetings every night after work, except Friday.

take someone/something to be something (also take someone/something for something)

If you take someone or something to be something, or if you take someone or something for something, you accept or believe that they are that thing:

These creatures are generally taken to be descended from primitive fishes.

can't take something

to not be able to deal with an unpleasant situation:

can't take something any more I can't take it any more. I'm leaving.

take it or leave it

accept or refuse the offer completely:

That's my final offer - you can take it or leave it.

More examplesFewer examples

Do you usually take a morning/afternoon break?
I took this new job because I felt that the career prospects were much better.
The director took a risk in giving the movie's main role to an unknown actor.
She took a few spoonfuls of soup but left her main course untouched.
He took a drop in salary when he changed jobs.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Getting, receiving and accepting

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Typifying, illustrating and exemplifying

take verb (HOLD)

B1 [ T ]

to move in order to hold something in the hand(s):

Can you take this bag while I open the door?

He took my arm and led me outside.

Take an egg and break it into the bowl.

take hold of He took hold of the plant's root and pulled.

More examplesFewer examples

The baby took my finger in its tenacious little fist.
Take my hand as we cross the road.
Each player takes three cards.
The doctor had to take my shoulder and click the joint back into place.
He took my arm and guided me to the bar.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Having in your hands

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take verb (GO WITH)

A1 [ T ]

to go somewhere with someone, often paying for that person or being responsible for them:

take someone to something We're taking the kids to the zoo on Saturday.

[ + to infinitive ] I took my elderly parents to look at some new houses.

[ + -ing verb ] Will you take me swimming tomorrow?

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

to take someone somewhere

takeI have to take my mother to the doctor today.
go withI offered to go with him to the police station.
come withCan you come to the hospital with me?
accompanyChildren under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
driveMy husband usually drives the kids to school.
give someone a liftCan you give me a lift into town?

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[ T ]

to show someone how to get to somewhere by going there with them:

take someone to something Let me take you to your room.

[ T ]

to go to a social event with someone:

take someone to something Who's taking you to the dance?

More examplesFewer examples

As a special treat, I'll take you to my favourite tea-shop.
I had to get up early to take her to the airport.
If he gets any worse I'll take him to the doctor's.
Three days after the birth, Paul and Sandra took their precious bundle of joy home.
I took my two-year old nephew down to the beach with his bucket and spade.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Taking someone somewhere or telling them the way

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take verb (TRANSPORT)

A2 [ T ]

to travel somewhere by using a particular form of transport or a particular vehicle, route, etc.:

I always take the train - it's less hassle than a car.

She took the 10.30 flight to Edinburgh.

If you take the road on the left, you'll come to the post office.

More examplesFewer examples

We took a bus to Mexico City.
From Heathrow, you can take a taxi.
I took the 6.30 train to Manchester.
Why don't you take the train to Paris?
We took a flight to Denver.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Travelling

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take verb (NEED)

B2 [ T ]

to need:

Parachuting takes a lot of nerve.

Transitive verbs take a direct object.

[ + -ing verb ] His story took some believing (= was difficult to believe).

to wear a particular size of clothes or shoes:

What size shoes do you take?

A2 [ L only + noun ]

If something takes a particular time, that period is needed in order to complete it:

The cooking process only takes ten minutes.

[ + to infinitive ] How long does this paint take to dry?

[ + obj + noun ] It took us all day to drive home.

not take long

to act or happen over a short period of time:

I'm just going to the shops - I won't take long.

take time

to need a long time:

Broken bones always take time to heal.

More examplesFewer examples

They took two hours to discuss the plans and considered it time well spent.
It took a lot of courage to do what she did.
The insurance company took months to settle my claim.
The jury took four days to reach a verdict.
This recipe takes four cloves of garlic.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Lacking things

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Wearing clothes

Spending time & time passing

take verb (MEASURE)

to measure something:

Nurses took my temperature and blood pressure.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Measuring & weighing

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take verb (DRUG/MEDICINE)

to swallow or use a medicine or drug, especially in a regular way:

Take this medicine three times a day.

Do you think she takes drugs?

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Drugs - general words

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take verb (DRINKS)

[ T ]

used to talk about the way in which someone likes to have a particular drink :

Do you take milk?

He takes his coffee black.

She takes her tea with lemon.

More examplesFewer examples

How do you take your scotch? With water?
I take my coffee strong with a dash of milk.

take verb (ACT)

B1 [ T ]

to do or perform:

Shelley is taking (= studying) economics at university.

UK The Archbishop took our service of thanksgiving.

take someone for something UK Mr Marshall takes us for (= teaches us) physics.

B1 [ T ]

used with many nouns to make a verb phrase that is equal in meaning to the related verb:

I think we'll take a break (= we'll stop for a break) there.

If you're tired you should take a rest (= you should rest).

I always like to take a walk (= to walk) after lunch.

More examplesFewer examples

I usually take a nap after lunch.
Who takes this class on Tuesdays?
I agreed to take Nicola's aerobics class for her next week.
I'm going to take some French lessons.
After the next song, we'll take a break.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Performing a function

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Acting and acts

take verb (THINK ABOUT)

B2 [ T ]

to think about something or someone in a particular way:

take something seriously We're taking the bomb threats very seriously.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Thinking and contemplating

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take verb (UNDERSTAND)

to understand something in a particular way:

I was just teasing him, but he took it the wrong way.

take something as something I'm not sure whether to take that as a compliment or an insult.

She gave a nod, which we took to mean that she agreed.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Understanding and comprehending

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take verb (REACTION)

B2 [ T ]

to have or come to have a particular feeling or opinion:

take an interest in He doesn't take any interest in his children.

take notice of Don't take any notice of the cameras.

take offence She takes offence too easily.

take pity on They took pity on the stray cat and fed it.

take the view that I take the view that fuel should be heavily taxed to reduce road use.

take someone by surprise (also take someone unawares)

to surprise someone:

The sudden noise took her by surprise.

More examplesFewer examples

She took offence when we offered to help her.
Don't take any notice of what they say.
She never took any notice of her critics.
He takes the view that children should not be allowed in pubs.
I took pity on her and bought her some clothes.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Feelings - general words

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Expressing and asking opinions

take verb (MONEY)

[ T ] mainly UK

(US usually take in)

to receive money from sales or as payment for entrance to an event:

The show took an astonishing $100,000 in its first week.

See also

takings

More examplesFewer examples

The restaurant took a lot of money that night.
How much do you usually take in an evening?

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Getting, receiving and accepting

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take verb (CATCH)

B2 [ T ]

to get possession of something or someone:

Rebels ambushed the train and took several prisoners.

take something from someone/something UK The Liberals need just 200 more votes to take the seat from Labour.

With these wins, the Democrats have now taken the House back from the Republicans.

take power Centre-left parties look set to take power.

take control Adam, I'd like you to take control of the aircraft now.

More examplesFewer examples

His party took control from the Communists.
UK We'll take a lot of Labour's vote over the issue of fox hunting.
The terrorists have taken hundreds of hostages.
The soldiers were taken behind enemy lines.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Capturing or taking possession of things

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take verb (WRITE)

B1 [ T ]

to write:

I hope you're all taking notes.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Writing & typing

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take verb (LEAVE)

[ I or T ]

in baseball, to let the ball go past without trying to hit it:

The pitcher had not thrown a strike so I decided to take a pitch.

He was taking all the way on that pitch.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Baseball & rounders

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take verb (PERFORM WELL)

[ I ]

to work or perform as expected:

These new plants haven't taken - they don't like this dry soil.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Performing a function

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Grammar

Phrases with take

We use take in a lot of phrases, especially with nouns. In these cases, the meaning of take depends on the noun: …

Take

Take means ‘move with something or someone from where the speaker or listener is to a different place’: …

Take: other meanings

Take can mean ‘remove without permission’: …

Bring, take and fetch

Bring means moving something or someone. The movement is either from where the listener is to where the speaker is, or from the speaker to the listener. …

Bring

Bring means moving something or someone. The movement is either from where the listener is to where the speaker is, or from the speaker to the listener. …

Take

Take means movement with something or someone from where the speaker or listener is to a different place: …

Bring or take?

seen from the viewpoint of the doer – she …

Fetch

Fetch means to go to another place to get something or someone and return with the thing or the person. We use it for people and things that are not here but that we need or are due to be here. We can usually use get instead of fetch: …

Bring, take and fetch: typical errors

We don’t use take when something is seen from the receiver’s viewpoint: …

Idioms

be like taking candy from a baby
can take it or leave it
I take it
if you take my meaning
point taken
take it upon yourself to do sth
take your time
take one (thing) at a time
take something as it comes
take that!

More idioms

take the time
take a walk!
will not take no for an answer

Phrasal verbs

take someone aback
take after someone
take against someone
take something apart
take someone apart
take someone aside
take something away
take something back
take someone back
take someone down

More phrasal verbs

take something down
take something from someone
take something in
take someone in
take something off
take off
take someone off
take something on
take on something
take someone on
take something out
take someone out
take someone/something out
take it out of someone
take someone out of himself/herself
take something out on someone
take (something) over
take someone round (something/somewhere)
take someone through something
take to someone/something
take to something
take to somewhere
take something up
take someone up on something
take up with someone

take

noun

/teɪk/ us

/teɪk/

take noun (MONEY)

[ U ]

money that is received from sales or as payment for entrance to an event:

The box office take was huge for the new show.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Profits & losses

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take noun (FILM)

[ C ]

the filming of a scene (= small part of a film):

This scene needed ten takes before we felt it was right.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Cinema - general words

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take noun (OPINION)

take on something

an opinion about something:

We'd love to hear your take on this issue.

take noun (VERSION)

take on something

a version of something that shows someone's attitude towards it:

The restaurant offers a new take on traditional French cooking.

Idiom

on the take

(Definition of take from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

take | American Dictionary

take

verb [ T ]

/teɪk/

past tense took us/tʊk/

take verb [T] (MOVE)

Add to word list Add to word list

past participle taken us/ˈteɪ·kən/

to move something or someone from one place to another:

Please, take me with you!

It may rain, so take your umbrella.

The suitcases were taken to Madrid by mistake.

I thought I’d take her some chocolates.

I take home about $200 a week.

take verb [T] (REMOVE)

past participle taken us/ˈteɪ·kən/

to remove something:

Here’s your pen – I took it by mistake.

A radio was taken from the car.

take someone’s life

To take someone’s life is to kill someone:

The fire took her life.

take verb [T] (ACCEPT)

past participle taken us/ˈteɪ·kən/

to accept something, or to receive something willingly:

I tried to phone him, but he refused to take my call.

Does this restaurant take credit cards?

Take this medicine three times a day.

I can take three more people in my car.

It’s a girls’ school that has now started taking boys.

Bob took a lot of criticism for his decision.

I refuse to take responsibility for what’s happened.

take verb [T] (THINK OF)

past participle taken us/ˈteɪ·kən/

to think of someone or understand something in a particular way; perceive:

[ + to infinitive ] I took him to be more honest than he really was.

The police are taking the robberies very seriously.

In the dim light I could have taken them for brothers.

I’m not going to forge his signature! What do you take me for?

past participle taken us/ˈteɪ·kən/

Take is sometimes used to introduce an example of what you mean:

It’s been really busy. Take last week – we had meetings every day.

take verb [T] (HOLD)

past participle taken us/ˈteɪ·kən/

to hold something:

He took my arm and led me to my seat.

Can you take this bag while I open the door?

take verb [T] (CATCH)

past participle taken us/ˈteɪ·kən/

to catch, win, or get possession of something:

Rebels ambushed the train and took several prisoners.

My roses took first prize at the flower show.

take verb [T] (NEED)

past participle taken us/ˈteɪ·kən/

to have as a necessary condition; need:

Parachuting takes a lot of nerve.

I take a size 9 shoe.

Transitive verbs take a direct object.

It didn’t take much persuasion to get her to go with us.

How long does this paint take to dry?

Broken bones always take time to mend.

takes forever

If something takes forever, it happens very slowly:

In rush-hour traffic, it takes forever to get home.

take verb [T] (ACT)

past participle taken us/ˈteɪ·kən/

to do something:

I’ve started taking piano lessons.

The government urged both sides to take steps to end the strike.

past participle taken us/ˈteɪ·kən/

Take is used with many nouns to make a verb phrase:

We can’t delay any longer – we have to take action (= to act).

In the evening I like to take a walk (= to walk).

If you’re tired, you need to take a nap (= to sleep).

take effect

to take effect means to start working:

The medicine should take effect quite quickly.

take turns

If you take turns, you and other people do the same thing, one after the other:

The mothers in our group take turns driving the children to school.

take verb [T] (MEASURE)

past participle taken us/ˈtei·kən/

to measure something:

Better take the baby’s temperature – she may have a fever.

take verb [T] (REACT)

past participle taken us/ˈteɪ·kən/

to have or cause to have a particular feeling or opinion:

He takes little interest in current events.

She takes offense too easily.

take someone by surprise

To take someone by surprise means to do something that is completely unexpected:

His sudden proposal took her totally by surprise.

take verb [T] (CHEAT)

infml past participle taken us/ˈteɪ·kən/

to cheat someone:

You paid $500 for that thing? I think you got taken.

take verb [T] (WRITE)

past participle taken us/ˈteɪ·kən/

to write information provided by someone or something:

Take notes as you read.

Journalists took down every word he said during the interview.

take verb [T] (PHOTOGRAPH)

past participle taken us/ˈteɪ·kən/

to make a photograph of someone or something:

We took lots of pictures of the new baby.

take verb [T] (TRAVEL ON)

past participle taken us/ˈteɪ·kən/

to travel on something to get from one place to another:

I always take the train.

Take the road on the left to get to my house.

Idioms

not take something lying down
take a deep breath
take a dim view of something
take advantage of something
take advantage of someone
take a hike
take a hint
take a joke
take a shine to
take a turn for the worse

More idioms

take someone/somewhere by storm
take care (of yourself)
take care of someone/something
take charge (of something)
take something for granted
take heart
take hold
take something in (your) stride
take something into account
take issue with someone/something
take it easy
take it or leave it
take its toll
take it upon yourself to do something
take notice (of something)
take (great) pains to do something
take part in something
take your pick
take place
take sides
something takes the cake
take stock (of something)
take the bull by the horns
take the initiative
take the plunge
take the time to do something
take the wraps off something
take your time
take someone to task for something
take something with a grain of salt
take someone’s word for it

Phrasal verbs

take someone back
take something off
take something out on someone
take someone through something
take something through something
take someone up on something
take something up with someone
take after someone
take apart something
take away something

More phrasal verbs

take back something
take down something
take down someone 
take down something
take in something
take in someone
take in something
take in someone
take in something
take in something
take off
take off
take off something
take on something
take on someone/something
take out something
take out someone
take out something/someone
take over (something)
take to something/someone
take to something
take to somewhere
take up something
take up something
take up something
take up something
take up with someone

take

noun

/teɪk/

take noun (FILMING)

[ C ]

the filming of a small part of a movie:

That scene needed ten takes before they got it right.

take noun (MONEY)

[ U ]

the amount of money received from an activity:

The box office take has been huge for the new show.

take noun (OPINION)

[ C ]

a particular feeling, opinion, or reaction:

What’s your take on the new proposals for new health care?

(Definition of take from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

take | Business English

take

verb [ T ]

/teɪk/ us

took | taken

Add to word list Add to word list

(also take away)

to subtract one number or amount from another:

take sth from sth You'll need to take $2,000 from the $8,000 to allow for tax.

to remove something or someone from somewhere:

take sth/sb off (sth) What are we left with after we take off our costs?

I asked for her name to be taken off the list.

They decided to take him off the job and assign him to another department.

take sth away The police took away all of the files for investigation.

to accept or receive something:

Do you take credit cards?

take an order We're taking 5,000 orders a day.

Top executives will take a 10% pay cut.

He took a job as salesman in a local company.

Are you going to take the job if you get offered it?

COMMERCE

(US also take in)

to receive money from sales or as payment for something:

They took an astonishing $100,000 in their first week.

The company will make money by taking 5% from each bet.

COMMERCE

to buy or choose something:

The good news is that they have decided to take 200 units a year.

50% of our total production is taken by just three customers.

to need something:

It takes determination to succeed in a new business venture.

if something takes a particular amount of time, that time is needed in order to finish it:

They estimated that the project would take about 6 months to complete.

have (got) what it takes

to have the necessary qualities or abilities to do something:

Have you got what it takes to be in charge of a department?

If you don't have what it takes, you're not going to last long.

take it or leave it

used when you are offering something to someone to say that you will not improve your offer:

And that's our final offer. Take it or leave it.

take part (in sth)

to be involved in something with other people:

Most of the board members took part in the discussions.

take stock

to think carefully about a situation or event and form an opinion about it, so that you can decide what to do:

When markets touch new highs, investors need to take stock.

I am currently taking stock of our position.

ACCOUNTING

→ stocktake

take time

to need a lot of time:

It's going to take time to get this department running smoothly again.

Phrasal verbs

take sth away
take sth back
take sth forward
take sth in
take off
take sth off
take sb on
take sth on
take sth out
take over

More phrasal verbs

take sb through sth

take sth up

take

noun

/teɪk/ us

[ U ] FINANCE, COMMERCE

money that is received from sales or as payment for something:

The players now get 75% of the take.

Tour operators had come to rely on the commission from insurance to increase their take.

Last weekend's take was down over 50%.

be on the take disapproving informal

to accept money for helping someone to do something illegal:

They vowed to punish officials on the take.

Examples of take

take

They plotted out the area and drew up plans before taking it over.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The two players alternately take new edges, one edge per move.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Take the three-person game introduced above and suppose the players' beliefs are as specified.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Although it was well-known that rice is mainly self-pollinating, it was also known that some cross-pollination can take place.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

An ordinary industrial robot hanging over the workcell suspended by an iron portal takes care of hexapod translocations.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Five organic components and the presence of amorphous organic matter were taken into account in the palynofacies analysis.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

His contribution contains the most detailed phonetic analysis, taking into account not only prosodic features but segmental characteristics as well.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

In his visits to and walks around allotments, public housing projects and wasteland, he took photographs, drew maps and interviewed inhabitants or users of space.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Placing and orientation of the camera for taking the pictures followed the same method as described for 38-mm photographs.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The location of sulci could nonetheless be determined by referring to the photographs taken during each stage of the flatmounting process.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

All photographs were taken using identical camera settings.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The present study aimed to assess, in a community sample, actions taken to cope with depression at different levels of psychological distress.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Having taken these precautions, no associations between any of the immune or inflammatory measures and psychological health outcomes were observed.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Even if ' verb ' is taken here as a shorthand for ' argument-taker ', it may be thought that no harm is done, because prototypical argument-takers are verbs.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The generating extension takes the values classified as static as parameters and returns the source program specialized with respect to these values.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

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What is the pronunciation of take?