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Glite Dictionary
to take time

to take time

286 2.3
To need a long time to finish
  • phrasal verb
  • /teɪk taɪm/
translation icon : llevar tiempo
  • Creating a good habit takes time, but it will be worth it.
  • take time and effort
  • take time to think
  • take time to develop

And for me, this one took time and that's OK.

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Examples

  • But remember, it takes time to get to really know someone.

  • So change is hard, It takes time, but it is possible.

  • Well, you know, it takes time to sort things out.

  • To achieve that level of confidence takes time, takes a lot of time.

    Harvard University

  • But folks, you need to take time to be quiet.

  • Listen, it takes time to speed the train up.

    Play Dirty (2025)

  • Well, as I said, it's going to take time.

    Remember Me (2022)

  • It takes time to put those pieces back together.

    Last Chance Charlene (2022)

  • It takes time to find a perfect fit.

    People Like Us (2012)

  • Building a financially thriving practice takes time, and the savings will carry you through the lean months.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

to take forever
vsto take time
  • Informal
65 3.4

Lasts much longer than expected

require a considerable but not extreme amount of time

Antonyms

to hurry up
  • Informal
637 1.0

To move or act more quickly to avoid being late

How Long

to take time
286 2.3

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

take + time

The meaning 'to require a significant amount of time' is directly and compositionally derived from 'take' (require) + 'time' (a span or duration). This is a common, literal verb + noun construction found across many languages (e.g., French prendre du temps, Spanish llevar/tomar tiempo), so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand it.

Etymology

Take time comes from the simple image of taking a part of your time, like pulling minutes out of a day to use for something. So, when something takes time, it 'needs' a lot of time 'to be done'.