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0
to remove something, especially without permission:
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Has anything been taken (= stolen)?
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Here's your pen - I took it by mistake.
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All her possessions had been taken from her.
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If you take 4 (away) from 12 you get 8.
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1
to move something or someone from one place to another:
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The weather forecast said rain, so take your umbrella (with you) when you go out.
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The suitcases were taken to San Antonio by mistake.
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Take the book up/down to the third floor of the library.
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[ + two objects ] I suggested that he should take her some chocolates/take some chocolates to her (= bring them to her as a present).
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2
to accept or have:
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Do they take credit cards here?
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Do you take milk in your coffee?
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This container will take (= has room for) six litres.
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UK Which newspaper do you take (= regularly buy)?
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He continually abuses her, and she just sits there and takes it.
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If you think I'm going to take that lying down (= accept it without complaining), you're very much mistaken.
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I take the/your point (= accept the argument), but I still don't think you should have gone.
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I've been very busy recently. Take last week, I had meetings every night after work, except Friday.
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[ + to infinitive ] These creatures are generally taken to be descended from primitive fishes.
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I could have taken him for (= believed that he was) your brother.
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I'm not going to forge his signature for you! What do you take me for? (= You should not believe I could do a thing like that.)
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I can't take it any more. I'm leaving.
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That's my final offer - you can take it or leave it.
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3
to move in order to hold something in the hand(s):
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Can you take this bag while I open the door?
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He took my arm and led me outside.
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Take an egg and break it into the bowl.
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He took hold of the plant's root and pulled.
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4
to go somewhere with someone, often paying for that person or being responsible for them:
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We're taking the kids to the zoo on Saturday.
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[ + to infinitive ] I took my elderly parents to look at some new houses.
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[ + -ing verb ] Will you take me swimming tomorrow?
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Let me take you to your room.
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Who's taking you to the dance?
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5
to travel somewhere by using a particular form of transport or a particular vehicle, route, etc.:
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I always take the train - it's less hassle than a car.
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She took the 10.30 flight to Edinburgh.
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If you take the road on the left, you'll come to the post office.
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6
to need:
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Parachuting takes a lot of nerve.
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Transitive verbs take a direct object.
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[ + -ing verb ] His story took some believing (= was difficult to believe).
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What size shoes do you take?
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The cooking process only takes ten minutes.
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[ + to infinitive ] How long does this paint take to dry?
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[ + obj + noun ] It took us all day to drive home.
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I'm just going to the shops - I won't take long.
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Broken bones always take time to heal.
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7
to measure something:
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8
to swallow or use a medicine or drug, especially in a regular way:
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Take this medicine three times a day.
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Do you think she takes drugs?
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9
to do or perform:
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Shelley is taking (= studying) economics at university.
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UK The Archbishop took our service of thanksgiving.
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UK Mr Marshall takes us for (= teaches us) physics.
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I think we'll take a break (= we'll stop for a break) there.
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If you're tired you should take a rest (= you should rest).
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I always like to take a walk (= to walk) after lunch.
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10
to think about something or someone in a particular way:
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We're taking the bomb threats very seriously.
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11
to understand something in a particular way:
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I was just teasing him, but he took it the wrong way.
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I'm not sure whether to take that as a compliment or an insult.
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She gave a nod, which we took to mean that she agreed.
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12
to have or come to have a particular feeling or opinion:
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He doesn't take any interest in his children.
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Don't take any notice of the cameras.
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She takes offence too easily.
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They took pity on the stray cat and fed it.
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I take the view that fuel should be heavily taxed to reduce road use.
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The sudden noise took her by surprise.
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13
to receive money from sales or as payment for entrance to an event:
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The show took an astonishing $100,000 in its first week.
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14
to get possession of something or someone:
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Rebels ambushed the train and took several prisoners.
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UK The Liberals need just 200 more votes to take the seat from Labour.
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With these wins, the Democrats have now taken the House back from the Republicans.
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Centre-left parties look set to take power.
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Adam, I'd like you to take control of the aircraft now.
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15
to write:
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I hope you're all taking notes.
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16
to work or perform as expected:
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These new plants haven't taken - they don't like this dry soil.
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17
money that is received from sales or as payment for entrance to an event:
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The box office take was huge for the new show.
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18
the filming of a scene (= small part of a film):
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This scene needed ten takes before we felt it was right.
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19
an opinion about something:
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We'd love to hear your take on this issue.
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20
a version of something that shows someone's attitude towards it:
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21
to move something or someone from one place to another:
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Please, take me with you!
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It may rain, so take your umbrella.
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The suitcases were taken to Madrid by mistake.
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I thought I’d take her some chocolates.
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I take home about $200 a week.
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22
to remove something:
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Here’s your pen – I took it by mistake.
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A radio was taken from the car.
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The fire took her life.
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23
to accept something, or to receive something willingly:
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I tried to phone him, but he refused to take my call.
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Does this restaurant take credit cards?
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Take this medicine three times a day.
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I can take three more people in my car.
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It’s a girls’ school that has now started taking boys.
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Bob took a lot of criticism for his decision.
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I refuse to take responsibility for what’s happened.
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24
to think of someone or understand something in a particular way; perceive:
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[ + to infinitive ] I took him to be more honest than he really was.
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The police are taking the robberies very seriously.
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In the dim light I could have taken them for brothers.
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I’m not going to forge his signature! What do you take me for?
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It’s been really busy. Take last week – we had meetings every day.
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25
to hold something:
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He took my arm and led me to my seat.
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Can you take this bag while I open the door?
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26
to catch, win, or get possession of something:
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Rebels ambushed the train and took several prisoners.
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My roses took first prize at the flower show.
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27
to have as a necessary condition; need:
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Parachuting takes a lot of nerve.
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I take a size 9 shoe.
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Transitive verbs take a direct object.
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It didn’t take much persuasion to get her to go with us.
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How long does this paint take to dry?
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Broken bones always take time to mend.
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In rush-hour traffic, it takes forever to get home.
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28
to do something:
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I’ve started taking piano lessons.
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The government urged both sides to take steps to end the strike.
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We can’t delay any longer – we have to take action (= to act).
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In the evening I like to take a walk (= to walk).
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If you’re tired, you need to take a nap (= to sleep).
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The medicine should take effect quite quickly.
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The mothers in our group take turns driving the children to school.
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29
to measure something:
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Better take the baby’s temperature – she may have a fever.
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30
to have or cause to have a particular feeling or opinion:
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31
to cheat someone:
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You paid $500 for that thing? I think you got taken.
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32
to write information provided by someone or something:
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Take notes as you read.
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Journalists took down every word he said during the interview.
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33
to make a photograph of someone or something:
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We took lots of pictures of the new baby.
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34
to travel on something to get from one place to another:
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I always take the train.
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Take the road on the left to get to my house.
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35
the filming of a small part of a movie:
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That scene needed ten takes before they got it right.
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36
the amount of money received from an activity:
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The box office take has been huge for the new show.
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37
a particular feeling, opinion, or reaction:
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What’s your take on the new proposals for new health care?
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38
to subtract one number or amount from another:
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take sth from sth You'll need to take $2,000 from the $8,000 to allow for tax.
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39
to remove something or someone from somewhere:
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take sth/sb off (sth) What are we left with after we take off our costs?
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I asked for her name to be taken off the list.
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They decided to take him off the job and assign him to another department.
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take sth away The police took away all of the files for investigation.
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40
to accept or receive something:
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Do you take credit cards?
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take an order We're taking 5,000 orders a day.
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Top executives will take a 10% pay cut.
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He took a job as salesman in a local company.
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Are you going to take the job if you get offered it?
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41
to receive money from sales or as payment for something:
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They took an astonishing $100,000 in their first week.
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The company will make money by taking 5% from each bet.
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42
to buy or choose something:
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The good news is that they have decided to take 200 units a year.
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50% of our total production is taken by just three customers.
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43
to need something:
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44
if something takes a particular amount of time, that time is needed in order to finish it:
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They estimated that the project would take about 6 months to complete.
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45
to have the necessary qualities or abilities to do something:
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Have you got what it takes to be in charge of a department?
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If you don't have what it takes, you're not going to last long.
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46
used when you are offering something to someone to say that you will not improve your offer:
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And that's our final offer. Take it or leave it.
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47
to be involved in something with other people:
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Most of the board members took part in the discussions.
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48
to think carefully about a situation or event and form an opinion about it, so that you can decide what to do:
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49
to need a lot of time:
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It's going to take time to get this department running smoothly again.
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50
money that is received from sales or as payment for something:
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The players now get 75% of the take.
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Tour operators had come to rely on the commission from insurance to increase their take.
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Last weekend's take was down over 50%.
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51
to accept money for helping someone to do something illegal:
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They vowed to punish officials on the take.
