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to take

to take

∞ 1.0
Need a certain amount of time or space
  • verb
  • /teɪk/
: tardar
  • The project will take several months to complete, so we need to be patient.
  • take time
  • take longer
  • take 10 minutes

He said that it could take a few weeks.

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Examples

  • No matter how long it takes, they find a way.

  • An old African proverb states that it takes a village to raise a child.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Like it, all it takes is one thing.

  • And it says this can take a long time.

  • And very simply, it just takes one person.

  • What does it take to get somebody to remember me?!

  • How long will it take to complete the fuel tank?

  • If the recommended six items are included, it will take several hours per student to complete.

    Academic text (2013)
  • So the healing process could take thousands of years.

  • The job I'm talking about takes brains and integrity.

Synonyms

to need
vsto take
∞ 1.0

To require something because it is important

also covers having space or ability to keep items inside
to require
vsto take
∞ 1.1

Need something because a rule or situation makes it necessary

can also mean physical capacity or compatibility with contents
to involve
vsto take
∞ 1.8

Include someone or something as a necessary part of an activity

is simpler, focusing on need or physical capacity rather than inclusion
to contain
vsto take
∞ 1.1

To have something inside like a box or book

can also mean to require or call for something
to hold
vsto take
512 1.0

To have space inside for something

also expresses the idea of needing or expecting something
to call for
vsto take
267 3.2

Need something because the situation makes it necessary

is broader, also meaning to have room or accept items
to demand
vsto take
202 2.1

To need something because a job or situation must have it

is less forceful and can mean physical capacity too
to occupy
vsto take
119 3.3

To fill space or time

can also express needing something or being able to hold it
to accept
vsto take
55 2.7

To be able to receive something, for example a cable or signal

also expresses necessity or the need for something
to necessitate
vsto take
  • Formal
25 6.3

To make something needed as a result

also refers to being able to hold or contain objects

Idioms

62 6.8

To do something without asking for permission, as if you are allowed

56 4.0

About an amount that may be a little more or less

to take a hike
  • Informal
36 8.1

Tell someone to leave in a rude way

31 3.1

A situation where people both accept and give up things to make an agreement

Politely say no now but suggest doing it another time

To do the right thing and not respond angrily

to take a bullet
  • Informal
23 7.2

To accept pain or risk to protect another person

23 4.6

An offer you cannot change that you must accept or refuse

21 3.7

Bend forward to thank people who clap for you

Choose any one you want from the options

Make a brave decision even when it feels risky

to take a joke
  • Informal
19 3.3

To not be upset when someone makes a joke about you

16 8.3

To refuse to answer questions in court to avoid saying something that could make you look guilty

15 6.4

To accept something unpleasant so other people benefit

to take the cake
  • Informal
15 7.6

The most extreme example, often surprising in a bad or silly way

To lead an organization, group, or project

to take a wife
  • Archaic
13 9.2

To marry a woman

12 3.6

Focus on today and do not worry about the future

to take a gander
  • Informal
11 8.2

To look quickly and casually at something you are curious about

9 8.2

Accept failure or criticism bravely without complaining

To fall suddenly, for example by tripping or by losing value

6 5.2

Make a lot of effort and be careful about small details

Begin attacking or acting aggressively to gain an advantage

Act in a less honest way to get an advantage

To deal with a difficult problem directly and bravely

4 6.6

To show respect and praise for someone and their achievements

To not approve of something

Refuse to answer questions in court or by police to avoid saying you did something wrong

To admire and respect someone for what they have done

3 8.0

Get medical help for an illness or addiction

2 9.2

To accept a painful truth that changes what you believed

Need to be brave to do something

Stop paying attention to what is important

to take a mile
  • Informal
2 8.4

Use a small favor to get much more

2 9.9

To do very well and act confidently, often in a forceful way

To accept some demands while giving up some of your own

To guess or try something without much information

1 9.9

A situation where people who should not lead control things and cause chaos

Get a lot of criticism or blame from other people

Be completely sure that something is true or will happen

1 9.5

To tell someone rudely to leave

Join a convent and live as a nun

Copy what someone does to get the same results

1 4.9

To understand and accept that someone's remark makes sense even if you do not agree

To be the most annoying or surprising thing of all

To make someone lose the job or money they need to live

Lead a meeting as the person in charge

Allowing a small favor makes someone try to take much more than you wanted

to take a pew
  • Archaic
1 9.8

To sit down, often on a church seat but also anywhere

Accept the good and bad parts of a situation

1 8.1

To accept a public challenge to show you will compete

1 4.1

Make someone feel very surprised and unable to speak

Phrasal Verbs

∞ 1.3

To look after a person or thing and deal with their needs

∞ 1.3

To look after someone or deal with a problem

Go with a person to bring them to a place

∞ 1.9

To remove something from a place or container

∞ 1.5

To remove clothes or something from your body

∞ 2.3

To remove something from a place or reduce something important, for example a right

∞ 1.3

To look at something to check it or find information

∞ 1.8

Happen, especially when something is planned or scheduled

900 3.8

Gain control of a company, organization, or government

744 2.3

To need a long time to finish

Think something is important and pay attention to it

599 2.1

Return someone or something to the place they came from

To use a person or situation to get an unfair benefit for yourself

577 2.8

To agree to do a job or task

549 3.2

To leave a place quickly, often to travel somewhere else

543 1.4

To stop doing something for a short time to rest or relax before continuing

Use someone's trust or weakness to get something unfairly

to take it easy
  • Informal
431 2.5

Relax and avoid doing too much or worrying

417 3.1

Begin to control someone else's job or project

412 3.8

Do something risky hoping to do well

400 3.0

Get back something you had given, lent, or lost

388 2.8

To do something to solve a problem or make a change

326 3.2

Do things that might be dangerous to get something important

To admit you caused a problem and accept the blame

313 3.1

To stop working for a short time

300 2.8

Compete against someone, for example in a sport or game

299 4.9

Think something is true from what someone has said or shown

294 1.8

To move something from a high place to a lower place

270 3.4

To begin a job, activity, or hobby

262 2.3

To invite someone to go out with you for a date

252 3.5

Start to have power and make decisions about something

252 3.4

Allow someone to live in your home when they need help

To breathe in and out once to calm yourself or prepare to speak

207 3.0

To remove something that is fixed or standing, for example stage equipment

To make a photo using a camera

205 4.1

To believe something is true without checking it

201 1.4

To join in an activity with other people

199 1.8

To be careful to avoid danger

180 2.0

To lift something up, often with a spoon or tool

178 3.4

Pay attention to something to remember or think about it

178 4.1

Consider a fact or idea and include it when making a decision

Consider something when making a decision

166 3.5

To use a large part of time, space, or attention

164 1.0

To use a camera or phone to make a picture

152 3.5

Say that what you said before was wrong and you no longer believe it

Pull air slowly into your lungs to calm yourself

146 3.2

To remove something unwanted from a place

To do something risky hoping for a good result

129 3.6

Start to seem or show a particular quality

124 1.9

To leave the ground and begin to fly

123 3.6

Begin work in an official job after being elected or appointed

119 1.0

To wash and relax in a tub of warm water

102 3.2

To accept and follow directions from a person in charge

101 3.5

Start to control a group or situation and lead others

98 3.0

To become successful or popular very quickly

93 1.8

Do something one after another, each person doing it in order

91 6.0

To speak in court as a witness about what you saw

90 3.8

To begin either to like someone or to do something regularly as a habit

88 3.9

Visit a place or event to enjoy it

to take forever
  • Informal
85 3.4

Lasts much longer than expected

To stop work for a short time to rest or deal with personal matters

83 3.0

To separate something into parts so it can be moved or fixed

Do things to avoid harm or danger

to take back
  • Informal
82 3.1

Make someone remember a time from the past

to take down
  • Informal
82 5.1

To say cruel things to make people think less of someone

78 3.4

To get an official document or permit from an office

77 7.7

Act too familiar with someone or their things without asking

Start to work and produce a result

Go somewhere by bus

73 3.4

To feel pleased about something you or others do

To change direction or the way things are going, often suddenly

69 3.9

Begin a relationship again with someone after it ended

To start guiding a group or activity and make the main decisions

Compounds

38 3.2

The main point to remember from a talk or meeting

12 3.4

Money you get after taxes and other deductions

double take
  • Informal
11 5.8

A quick look showing surprise after not noticing something at first

A friendly exchange of ideas and jokes

The money you keep after taxes and other payments are taken out

6 3.5

The most important idea you learn from a talk or meeting

take-up
  • UK
1 4.1

How many people and how quickly they start to use something

1 2.3

Food prepared to be eaten somewhere else, not in the shop

A funny way of looking at a situation

take-up
  • Specialized
1 7.2

A device or action that pulls in extra material, for example slack in a rope

1 4.4

Counting and checking the goods a shop or warehouse has

take-in
  • Informal
7.7

A trick that cheats someone out of money or goods

How Much

to take
∞ 1.0
to contain
∞ 1.1

Surface Forms

take infinitive
taking present participle
takes third person singular
took past
taken past participle

Etymology

Take comes from an old Norse word taka that meant 'to fill' or 'hold'. So when something 'takes' time or space, it 'fills' or uses that time or space.