English verb: take on | |||
1. | take on (change) take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect | ||
Samples | His voice took on a sad tone. The story took a new turn. He adopted an air of superiority. She assumed strange manners. The gods assume human or animal form in these fables. | ||
Synonyms | acquire, adopt, assume, take | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | re-assume | ||
2. | take on (social) take on titles, offices, duties, responsibilities | ||
Samples | When will the new President assume office?. | ||
Synonyms | adopt, assume, take over | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | take office | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | resume | ||
3. | take on (social) accept as a challenge | ||
Samples | I'll tackle this difficult task. | ||
Synonyms | tackle, undertake | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | confront, face, face up | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | rise | ||
4. | take on (possession) admit into a group or community | ||
Samples | Accept students for graduate study. We'll have to vote on whether or not to admit a new member. | ||
Examples | Sam cannot take on Sue | ||
Synonyms | accept, admit, take | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | accept, have, take | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | profess | ||
Verb group | admit, include, let in | ||
5. | take on (competition) contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle | ||
Samples | Princeton plays Yale this weekend. Charlie likes to play Mary. | ||
Synonyms | encounter, meet, play | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | confront, face, replay | ||
Entail | compete, contend, vie | ||
Verb group | play, play, play, play | ||