take

To do an action, usually named by the noun that follows.

• I take a shower every morning.
• She took a deep breath.
• We need to take action now.

How to use it: take + action noun (We took a short break after lunch.)

Similar words: do, perform

Common phrases: take a walk, take a break, take action, take a shower

To carry or bring someone or something to another place.

• Please take this bag upstairs.
• He took his mother to the hospital.
• Can you take the children home?

How to use it: take someone/something to somewhere (I took my daughter to school.); take someone/something + place adverb (Please take these bags upstairs.)

Similar words: carry, transport, bring

Common phrases: take someone home, take something away, take something to someone

To need a particular amount of time, money, effort, or other resources.

• This job takes patience.
• It took us two hours to get home.
• How much money will the repairs take?

How to use it: take someone + time + to do something (It took me an hour to clean the kitchen.); take something to do something (It takes patience to teach young children.)

Similar words: require, need

Common phrases: take time, take effort, take money, take an hour

To hold something with your hand or hands.

• Take my hand.
• She took the handle firmly.
• He took her arm to steady himself.

How to use it: take someone/something by something (She took the child by the hand.)

Similar words: grasp, hold, grip

Opposites: release

Common phrases: take someone’s hand, take the handle, take hold

Someone’s opinion about something, or their way of understanding it.

• What is your take on this?
• Her take on the story surprised me.
• They offered different takes on the same problem.

How to use it: a take on something (I would like your take on this proposal.)

Similar words: opinion, view, perspective, interpretation

Common phrases: your take, take on something, personal take, fresh take

One attempt at recording a scene or performance without stopping.

• We need another take.
• The director liked the second take.
• They filmed the whole scene in one take.

Common phrases: first take, another take, single take

Money received from sales, a deal, or another activity.

• The shop’s daily take was low.
• They split the take from the ticket sales.
• How much was your share of the take?

Similar words: proceeds, earnings, takings

Common phrases: daily take, total take, share the take

An act of collecting, catching, or removing something.

• The daily take of fish is limited.
• Rangers recorded each hunter’s take of deer.
• The law restricts the annual take of wild birds.

Similar words: taking

Common phrases: annual take, daily take, legal take