took Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. verb carry out
   take.
   
   • take action
   • take steps
   • take vengeance
2. verb require (time or space)
   occupy; take; use up.
   
   • It took three hours to get to work this morning
   • This event occupied a very short time
3. verb take somebody somewhere
   guide; conduct; take; lead; direct.
   
   • We lead him to our chief
   • can you take me to the main entrance?
   • He conducted us to the palace
4. verb get into one's hands, take physically
   take; get hold of.
   
   • Take a cookie!
   • Can you take this bag, please
5. verb take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect
   assume; take on; acquire; take; adopt.
   
   • His voice took on a sad tone
   • The story took a new turn
   • he adopted an air of superiority
   • She assumed strange manners
   • The gods assume human or animal form in these fables
6. verb interpret something in a certain way; convey a particular meaning or impression
   read; take.
   
   • I read this address as a satire
   • How should I take this message?
   • You can't take credit for this!
7. verb take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
   bring; take; convey.
   
   • Bring me the box from the other room
   • Take these letters to the boss
   • This brings me to the main point
8. verb take into one's possession
   take.
   
   • We are taking an orphan from Romania
   • I'll take three salmon steaks
9. verb travel or go by means of a certain kind of transportation, or a certain route
   take.
   
   • He takes the bus to work
   • She takes Route 1 to Newark
10. verb pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
    pick out; choose; select; take.
    
    • Take any one of these cards
    • Choose a good husband for your daughter
    • She selected a pair of shoes from among the dozen the salesgirl had shown her
11. verb receive willingly something given or offered
    have; take; accept.
    
    • The only girl who would have him was the miller's daughter
    • I won't have this dog in my house!
    • Please accept my present
12. verb assume, as of positions or roles
    occupy; take; fill.
    
    • She took the job as director of development
    • he occupies the position of manager
    • the young prince will soon occupy the throne
13. verb take into consideration for exemplifying purposes
    look at; consider; deal; take.
    
    • Take the case of China
    • Consider the following case
14. verb require as useful, just, or proper
    call for; require; necessitate; involve; need; take; demand; ask; postulate.
    
    • It takes nerve to do what she did
    • success usually requires hard work
    • This job asks a lot of patience and skill
    • This position demands a lot of personal sacrifice
    • This dinner calls for a spectacular dessert
    • This intervention does not postulate a patient's consent
15. verb experience or feel or submit to
    take.
    
    • Take a test
    • Take the plunge
16. verb make a film or photograph of something
    shoot; take; film.
    
    • take a scene
    • shoot a movie
17. verb remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract
    withdraw; take away; take; remove.
    
    • remove a threat
    • remove a wrapper
    • Remove the dirty dishes from the table
    • take the gun from your pocket
    • This machine withdraws heat from the environment
18. verb serve oneself to, or consume regularly
    have; take in; consume; ingest; take.
    
    • Have another bowl of chicken soup!
    • I don't take sugar in my coffee
19. verb accept or undergo, often unwillingly
    take; submit.
    
    • We took a pay cut
20. verb make use of or accept for some purpose
    take; accept.
    
    • take a risk
    • take an opportunity
21. verb take by force
    take.
    
    • Hitler took the Baltic Republics
    • The army took the fort on the hill
22. verb occupy or take on
    assume; strike; take up; take.
    
    • He assumes the lotus position
    • She took her seat on the stage
    • We took our seats in the orchestra
    • She took up her position behind the tree
    • strike a pose
23. verb admit into a group or community
    take on; admit; take; accept.
    
    • accept students for graduate study
    • We'll have to vote on whether or not to admit a new member
24. verb ascertain or determine by measuring, computing or take a reading from a dial
    take.
    
    • take a pulse
    • A reading was taken of the earth's tremors
25. verb be a student of a certain subject
    read; study; take; learn.
    
    • She is reading for the bar exam
26. verb take as an undesirable consequence of some event or state of affairs
    claim; exact; take.
    
    • the accident claimed three lives
    • The hard work took its toll on her
27. verb head into a specified direction
    make; take.
    
    • The escaped convict took to the hills
    • We made for the mountains
28. verb point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
    aim; direct; train; take; take aim.
    
    • Please don't aim at your little brother!
    • He trained his gun on the burglar
    • Don't train your camera on the women
    • Take a swipe at one's opponent
29. verb be seized or affected in a specified way
    take.
    
    • take sick
    • be taken drunk
30. verb have with oneself; have on one's person
    carry; take; pack.
    
    • She always takes an umbrella
    • I always carry money
    • She packs a gun when she goes into the mountains
31. verb engage for service under a term of contract
    hire; engage; charter; take; lease; rent.
    
    • We took an apartment on a quiet street
    • Let's rent a car
    • Shall we take a guide in Rome?
32. verb receive or obtain regularly
    subscribe to; subscribe; take.
    
    • We take the Times every day
33. verb buy, select
    take.
    
    • I'll take a pound of that sausage
34. verb to get into a position of having, e.g., safety, comfort
    take.
    
    • take shelter from the storm
35. verb have sex with; archaic use
    take; have.
    
    • He had taken this woman when she was most vulnerable
36. verb lay claim to; as of an idea
    claim; take.
    
    • She took credit for the whole idea
37. verb be designed to hold or take
    take; accept.
    
    • This surface will not take the dye
38. verb be capable of holding or containing
    hold; take; contain.
    
    • This box won't take all the items
    • The flask holds one gallon
39. verb develop a habit
    take.
    
    • He took to visiting bars
40. verb proceed along in a vehicle
    drive; take.
    
    • We drive the turnpike to work
41. verb obtain by winning
    take.
    
    • Winner takes all
    • He took first prize
42. verb be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness
    take; contract; get.
    
    • He got AIDS
    • She came down with pneumonia
    • She took a chill

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