take
A1 (Extremely High Frequency)Universal - used in all registers from formal to highly informal.
Definition
Meaning
To lay hold of, move, or carry (something/someone) to a different place or into one's possession or control.
An extremely polysemous verb whose many senses extend from physical action (grasp, capture, carry) to abstract processes (accept, endure, understand, require). It often describes removing something from its place, accepting something offered, or the time/effort needed for an action.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
One of the most polysemous verbs in English, with senses ranging from concrete (take a book) to idiomatic (take a break), phrasal (take off), and light verb constructions (take a photo/shower/decision). The specific meaning is highly context-dependent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor: British 'take' in time phrases ('It took me an hour'); American can use 'take' or 'last' ('The meeting took/lasted an hour'). 'Take a decision' (more UK) vs. 'make a decision' (more US/UK). 'Take away' (UK maths) vs. 'subtract' (US). 'Take-away' (UK food) vs. 'take-out' (US).
Connotations
Largely identical. In formal UK contexts, 'take a decision' may be preferred over 'make a decision'.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
NP take NP (He took the book)NP take NP PrepP (She took the book from the shelf)It take NP NP/PrepP (It took me an hour; It took courage for him to speak)NP take NP to-INF (She took a day off to relax)NP take NP (as) Adj/PP (I take your silence as agreement)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “take it easy”
- “take for granted”
- “take a rain check”
- “take the cake”
- “take the plunge”
- “take the bull by the horns”
- “take five”
- “take someone to task”
- “take a back seat”
- “take one's time”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Acquiring ownership (take over a company), accepting terms (take an offer), requiring resources (The project will take three months).
Academic
Requiring (This equation takes into account...), interpreting (We take this to mean...), enduring (take criticism).
Everyday
Ubiquitous for carrying, consuming, accepting, using transport, time duration.
Technical
Specific meanings in photography (take a picture), medicine (take medicine), computing (take a backup).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Could you take the rubbish out, please?
- I'll take a decision after the meeting.
- It doesn't take much to make him happy.
American English
- Can you take out the trash, please?
- I'll make a decision after the meeting.
- It doesn't take much to make him happy.
adjective
British English
- She brought a take-away curry.
- He works in the takeaway sector.
American English
- She brought take-out Chinese.
- He works in the takeout business.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Take your bag with you.
- I take the bus to school.
- Can you take a photo of us?
- It took me a long time to finish the book.
- You need to take responsibility for your actions.
- Let's take a break and have some coffee.
- The new manager will take over next month.
- I take your point, but I still disagree.
- The sudden news took everyone by surprise.
- The government's policy has taken a considerable toll on small businesses.
- One must take into account the broader historical context.
- He took umbrage at the suggestion that he had been negligent.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of your hand closing around a cake to TAKE it. The 'a' in 'take' is like the 'a' in 'grab' and 'cake'.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME/UNDERSTANDING IS A POSSESSIBLE OBJECT (take time, take a hint), LIFE IS A JOURNEY (take a path, take a step), ACCEPTING IS TAKING (take an apology, take advice).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Confusing 'take' with 'bring' (принести) – 'take' implies movement away from speaker.
- Overusing 'take' for 'last' (The film lasted/took 2 hours).
- Using 'take a decision' in all contexts (US prefers 'make').
- Translating 'брать' literally for abstract concepts (to take a look is 'посмотреть').
Common Mistakes
- *I will take my sister to school tomorrow (incorrect if speaker is also going; use 'take' for movement away).
- *It takes two hours to him to get ready. (Correct: It takes him two hours...)
- *She took a coffee. (Better: She had/got a coffee unless literally removing it).
- *I took a mistake. (Correct: I made a mistake).
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The infection is starting to take hold,' what does 'take' most closely mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Take' implies movement away from the speaker's current location to another place. 'Bring' implies movement toward the speaker or to the place where the speaker will be.
Yes, it is standard in British English, though 'make a decision' is more common globally. In American English, 'make a decision' is strongly preferred.
Yes, in the construction 'It takes/took [someone] [time] to do something' (It took me an hour). It describes the time required for an action.
Because 'take' is a basic verb of acquisition and movement. Adding prepositions/adverbs extends its meaning metaphorically into abstract domains (take on a challenge, take up a hobby), making it highly productive for creating new expressions.
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A1 · 50 words · Words for describing your everyday activities and schedule.