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 Defoe
Examples 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
Barrett cast a key vote to strike down Roe vs. Wade, but took on the Idaho attorney Wednesday for refusing to say whether doctors could perform abortions in certain emergencies.
—David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
After retiring from professional football in 2020, Bennett decided to take on another challenge—the design world.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 24 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for take on 
David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
After retiring from professional football in 2020, Bennett decided to take on another challenge—the design world.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 24 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for take on
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'take on.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near take on
Cite this Entry
“Take on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20on. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
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