take on
phrasal verb·3 senses·particle on
Meanings
Accept a responsibility or challenge
Why “on”? Weight piles on top of you. What is on you is yours to carry.
“I can't take on any more work right now.”
“The charity took on three new cases.”
“Nora took on the challenge of cooking for fifty guests.”
“Leo took on the job of checking the final numbers after the office meeting.”
Employ new staff
“The garage cannot take anyone on until business improves.”
“The cafe is taking on two cooks for summer.”
“We took Ana on even though she had little experience.”
Compete against
Why “on”? An action is directed onto a person, thing or weakness as its target.
“The team took on its local rivals in the final.”
“Our small shop is taking on a national chain.”
“Maya took on the chess champion.”
Memory hook
You load the responsibility on yourself — you take it on.
Common mistake
She took on with a new project.
She took on a new project.
Take on (accept work) takes the object directly — no with.
Natural collocations
The word partners “take on” most often appears with — learn the phrase, not just the verb.
Don't confuse with
Take on means accept a responsibility or challenge. Take in means understand and absorb information.
Take on means accept a responsibility or challenge. Take up means accept an offered opportunity.
Take on means accept a responsibility or challenge. Take back means re-employ or accept a person again.
Test yourself
“I can't take on any more work right now.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
take back
A contrast learners often mix up
Reclaim something you gave; Retract a statement; Carry something back to where it came from; Make someone remember a past time vividly; Re-employ or accept a person again
take in
A contrast learners often mix up
Understand and absorb information; Deceive or cheat; Alter clothing to make smaller
take up
A contrast learners often mix up
Start a new hobby or activity; Occupy space or time; Accept an offered opportunity; Resume something after a pause or interruption; Shorten a piece of clothing by adjusting its hem
call on
Same on pattern: target
Ask someone to do something formally
cheat on
Same on pattern: target
Be unfaithful to a partner
come on
Same on pattern: target
Used to encourage, hurry or challenge someone; Begin to develop, especially an illness or weather; Start working or be turned on; Make progress or improve; Show romantic or sexual interest in someone, often in a direct way; Be broadcast on television or radio
dote on
Same on pattern: target
Show extreme affection toward someone
dump on
Same on pattern: burden
Unload an unwanted task onto someone
Tell it apart
Side-by-side comparisons with the verbs learners most often confuse for “take on”.
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