Base verb

Phrasal verbs with take

The verb take combines with 14 particles to form everyday phrasal verbs. Each particle steers the meaning in its own direction — here they are with clear definitions and examples, so you can see the whole family at once.

14 phrasal verbs · 38 meanings

take after

1 sense
  • Resemble a parent or relative
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take along

1 sense
  • Bring someone or something with you
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take apart

2 senses
  • Disassemble completely
  • Criticise harshly
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take aside

1 sense
  • Lead someone away from others to talk privately
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take away

4 senses
  • Remove something from a place
  • Buy food to eat elsewhere
  • Subtract a number
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take back

5 senses
  • Reclaim something you gave
  • Retract a statement
  • Carry something back to where it came from
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take down

3 senses
  • Remove something from a higher position
  • Write notes quickly
  • Defeat someone or remove something from operation
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take forward

1 sense
  • Progress or develop a project
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take in

3 senses
  • Understand and absorb information
  • Deceive or cheat
  • Alter clothing to make smaller
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take off

3 senses
  • Remove clothing or accessories
  • Leave the ground (aircraft)
  • Become suddenly successful
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take on

3 senses
  • Accept a responsibility or challenge
  • Employ new staff
  • Compete against
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take out

3 senses
  • Remove something from inside
  • Invite someone to go somewhere socially
  • Borrow from a library
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take over

3 senses
  • Assume control of something
  • Become more powerful or dominant
  • Briefly do a task that another person has been doing
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take up

5 senses
  • Start a new hobby or activity
  • Occupy space or time
  • Accept an offered opportunity
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