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
But there’s a subtle yet significant cost to be paid when players are elevated in the lineup, taking on different roles and playing with different linemates.
—Aaron Portzline, The Athletic, 5 Feb. 2025
February 5, 2025 Meghan Markle’s style has always leaned towards laidback luxe—think camel tones and cashmere—but her off-duty wardrobe has taken on a more sentimental twist.
—Olivia Allen, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2025
Unless governments take on the financial burden of serious mitigation efforts, the price of California's fire risk will remain unequal and left to the homeowners, Collier of UC Berkeley said.
—CBS News, 5 Feb. 2025
Though his first set of films were tight snapshots often running under an hour and a half, as his skills developed, his work began to take on a more epic, portrait-like quality.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 5 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for take on 
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Aaron Portzline, The Athletic, 5 Feb. 2025
February 5, 2025 Meghan Markle’s style has always leaned towards laidback luxe—think camel tones and cashmere—but her off-duty wardrobe has taken on a more sentimental twist.
—Olivia Allen, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2025
Unless governments take on the financial burden of serious mitigation efforts, the price of California's fire risk will remain unequal and left to the homeowners, Collier of UC Berkeley said.
—CBS News, 5 Feb. 2025
Though his first set of films were tight snapshots often running under an hour and a half, as his skills developed, his work began to take on a more epic, portrait-like quality.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 5 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for take on
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 8 Feb. 2025.
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