take on
Britishverb
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to employ or hire
to take on new workmen
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to assume or acquire
his voice took on a plaintive note
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to agree to do; undertake
I'll take on that job for you
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to compete against, oppose, or fight
I will take him on at tennis
I'll take him on any time
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informal (intr) to exhibit great emotion, esp grief
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Undertake or begin to deal with, as in I took on new responsibilities , or She took on too much when she accepted both assignments . [Early 1300s]
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Hire, engage, as in We take on extra workers during the busy season . [Early 1600s]
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Oppose in competition, as in This young wrestler was willing to take on all comers . [Late 1800s]
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Display strong emotion, as in Don't take on so . [ Colloquial ; early 1400s]
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Acquire as, or as if, one's own, as in He took on the look of a prosperous banker . [Late 1700s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This disparity encourages many homeowners to stay put rather than move to a different home and take on a higher tax bill.
In the long term, AI tools meant to save time can make workers feel busier and more stretched because they’re taking on more tasks.
From MarketWatch
When Nelson first came to the UK he took on various jobs, including making Mother's Pride bread and Kipling's Cakes near Southampton, as well as Bendick's Chocolate in Winchester.
From BBC
Many analysts are expecting further cuts, especially since Paramount took on debt to finance the deal.
From BBC
His own sound is heavily indebted to both 1960s rock 'n' roll and 1990s Britpop, and he has described his band's new single For Your Love as "a modern take on a vintage sound".
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
