📒 to carry or move something from one place to another
- take something Remember to take your coat when you leave.
- take something with you I forgot to take my bag with me when I got off the bus.
- take somebody something Shall I take my host family a gift?
📒 to go with somebody from one place to another, especially to guide or lead them
- take somebody It's too far to walk—I'll take you by car.
- take somebody to something A boy took us to our room.
- take somebody doing something I'm taking the kids swimming later.
📒 to make somebody/something go from one level, situation, etc. to another
- Her energy and talent took her to the top of her profession.
- The new loan takes the total debt to $100 000.
- I'd like to take my argument a stage further.
📒 to need or require a particular amount of time
- take something The process took about a year.
- The journey to the airport takes about half an hour.
- take something to do something It takes about half an hour to get to the airport.
📒 to photograph somebody/something
- take something to take a picture/photo/shot of somebody/something
- to have your picture/photo taken
📒 to use a form of transport, a road, a path, etc. to go to a place
- to take the bus/train
- to take a cab/plane
- Take the second road on the right.
📒 to put your hands or arms around somebody/something and hold them/it; to reach for somebody/something and hold them/it
- I passed him the rope and he took it.
- Free newspapers: please take one.
- Can you take (= hold) the baby for a moment?
📒 to remove something/somebody from a place or a person
- Will you take your books off the table?
- The sign must be taken down.
- He took some keys out of his pocket.
📒 to remove something without permission or by mistake
- Someone has taken my scarf.
- Did the burglars take anything valuable?
- All she had taken was her passport and driving licence.
📒 to get something from a particular source
- take something from something The scientists are taking water samples from the river.
- The machine takes its name from its inventor.
- take something out of something Part of her article is taken straight (= copied) out of my book.
📒 to sit down in or use a chair, etc.
- Are these seats taken?
- Come in; take a seat.
- May I sit here?
📒 to eat, drink, etc. something
- Do you take sugar in your coffee?
- The doctor has given me some medicine to take for my cough.
- He started taking drugs (= illegal drugs) at college.
📒 to find out and record something; to write something down
- The police officer took my name and address.
- Did you take notes in the class?
📒 to do an exam or a test
- When did you take your driving test?
📒 to study a subject at school, college, etc.
- She is planning to take a course in web design.
- Last year I started taking yoga classes.
- How many subjects are you taking this year?
📒 to use a particular course of action in order to deal with or achieve something
- take something We need to take a different approach to the problem.
- The government is taking action to combat drug abuse.
📒 used with nouns to say that somebody is doing something, performing an action, etc.
- to take a look
- to take a break
- to take a shot at somebody/something
📒 to test or measure something
- to take somebody’s temperature
- I need to have my blood pressure taken.
📒 to capture a place or person; to get control of something
- take something The rebels succeeded in taking the town.
- The state has taken control of the company.
- take something from somebody The militants took the city from government forces.
📒 to choose, buy or rent something
- I'll take the grey jacket.
- We took a room at the hotel for two nights.
📒 to buy a newspaper or magazine regularly
📒 to accept or receive something
- If they offer me the job, I'll take it.
- She was accused of taking bribes.
- I'll take the call in my office.
📒 to act in response to an opportunity
- When the bus stopped for fuel, we took the opportunity to get something to eat.
- England failed to take their chances and had to settle for a draw.
- He isn't afraid to take risks.
📒 to accept somebody as a customer, patient, etc.
- The school doesn't take boys (= only has girls).
- The dentist can't take any new patients.
📒 to experience or be affected by something
- The school took the full force of the explosion.
- Can the ropes take the strain (= not break)?
- The team took a terrible beating.
📒 to be able to bear something
- She can't take criticism.
- I don't think I can take much more of this heat.
- I find his attitude a little hard to take.
📒 to react to something/somebody in a particular way
- He took the criticism surprisingly well.
- These threats are not to be taken lightly.
- I wish you'd take me seriously.
📒 to understand or consider something in a particular way
- take something How am I supposed to take that remark?
- Taken overall, the project was a success.
- take something as something She took what he said as a compliment.
📒 to consider somebody/something to be somebody/something, especially when you are wrong
- take somebody/something for somebody/something Even the experts took the painting for a genuine Van Gogh.
- Of course I didn't do it! What do you take me for (= what sort of person do you think I am)?
- take somebody/something to be somebody/something I took the man with him to be his father.
📒 to have a particular feeling, opinion or attitude
- My parents always took an interest in my hobbies.
- Don't take offence (= be offended) at what I said.
- I took a dislike to him.
📒 to reduce one number by the value of another
- take A (away) (from B) Take 5 from 12 and you're left with 7.
- B take away A (informal) 80 take away 5 is 75.
📒 used to introduce somebody/something as an example
- Lots of couples have problems in the first year of marriage. Take Ann and Paul.
📒 to have or start to have a particular form, position or state
- Our next class will take the form of a debate.
- The new president takes office in January.
- The home side had a chance to take the lead.
📒 to need or require something in order to happen or be done
- take somebody/something to do something It only takes one careless driver to cause an accident.
- It doesn't take much to make her angry.
- take something (informal) He didn't take much persuading (= he was easily persuaded).
📒 to use something in order to work
- The buses have been adapted to take biofuel.
📒 to wear a particular size in shoes or clothes
- What size shoes do you take?
📒 to have enough space for something/somebody; to be able to hold or contain a particular quantity
- The bus can take 60 passengers.
- The tank takes 50 litres.
📒 to be the teacher or leader in a class or a religious service
- take somebody (for something) The head teacher usually takes us for French.
- take something Mr Perkins took the morning service.
📒 to go over or around something
- The horse took the first fence well.
- He takes bends much too fast.
📒 to kick or throw the ball from a fixed or agreed position
- to take a penalty/free kick/corner
📒 to use a particular method to find out people’s opinions
- to take a vote/poll/survey
📒 to be successful; to work
- The skin graft failed to take.
📒 to have or require something when used in a sentence or other structure
- The verb ‘rely’ takes the preposition ‘on’.
📒 used to say that you do not care if somebody accepts or rejects your offer
📒 used to say that somebody does not have a strong opinion about something
- Dancing? I can take it or leave it.
📒 to have the qualities, ability, etc. needed to be successful
📒 used to say that you cannot trust somebody to behave well in public
- You haven’t spilled your coffee again! I can’t take you anywhere!
📒 to accept something/somebody without wishing it/them to be different or without thinking about it/them very much in advance
- She takes life as it comes.
📒 to suppose; to assume
- I take it you won't be coming to the party?
📒 used to emphasize that what you are going to say is the truth
- Take it from me—he'll be a millionaire before he's 30.
📒 to make somebody physically or mentally tired
- Looking after small children really takes it out of you.
📒 to decide to do something without asking permission or advice
📒 to need a lot of effort or time; to be very difficult to do
📒 used as an exclamation when you are hitting somebody or attacking them in some other way