1
as in facing
to enter into contest or conflict with
will take on his chief opponent in the next political debate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hiring
to provide with a paying job
decided to take her on as store manager
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in borrowing
to take for one's own use (something originated by another)
recently arrived immigrants who are eager to take on the language and culture of their adopted homeland
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of taking on
The two candidates, who have been leading Republicans in previous polling, spend much of their political capital taking on one another in hopes of avoiding a runoff race.
—
Irene Wright, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
But Fuqua’s Hannibal is recognizably Black—an African insurgent taking on a European empire.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
The governor has rightly made reining in this out-of-control enterprise a top priority in the state budget talks, taking on one of Albany’s most entrenched special interests — the trial lawyers — with the goal of lowering insurance costs for New Yorkers.
—Ike Brannon, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
Brandon Quintin Adams joined The Sandlot as Kenny DeNunez, taking on the part after appearing in Moonwalker (1988), The People Under the Stairs (1991), and The Mighty Ducks (1992).
—Madeline Boardman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
Oracle is leasing Stargate's data center campus in Abilene, and has been funding the buildout by taking on tens of billions of dollars in debt.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2026
Hurley came to UConn in 2018 to rebuild after the first losing seasons in 30 years, taking on the program Jim Calhoun forged into a national power.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
Kimber White, president of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, credited Congress for taking on housing.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
When Geese came back with last year’s Getting Killed, with a sound Sheffield compares to an In Rainbows cover band taking on Talking Heads’ Fear of Music, the world was more than ready.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2026
Irene Wright, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
But Fuqua’s Hannibal is recognizably Black—an African insurgent taking on a European empire.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
The governor has rightly made reining in this out-of-control enterprise a top priority in the state budget talks, taking on one of Albany’s most entrenched special interests — the trial lawyers — with the goal of lowering insurance costs for New Yorkers.
—Ike Brannon, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
Brandon Quintin Adams joined The Sandlot as Kenny DeNunez, taking on the part after appearing in Moonwalker (1988), The People Under the Stairs (1991), and The Mighty Ducks (1992).
—Madeline Boardman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
Oracle is leasing Stargate's data center campus in Abilene, and has been funding the buildout by taking on tens of billions of dollars in debt.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2026
Hurley came to UConn in 2018 to rebuild after the first losing seasons in 30 years, taking on the program Jim Calhoun forged into a national power.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
Kimber White, president of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, credited Congress for taking on housing.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
When Geese came back with last year’s Getting Killed, with a sound Sheffield compares to an In Rainbows cover band taking on Talking Heads’ Fear of Music, the world was more than ready.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taking on
Verb
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That would bring the global total of people facing food insecurity to 363 million, the highest level on record.—
Mae Anderson,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
Climate tech startups are turning to AI as the solution for more problems facing the US clean power sector.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Then last June, the Nuggets snatched Wallace back from Minnesota, hiring him as their new co-general manager alongside his friend Ben Tenzer — another longtime Connelly disciple who’d been a steady hand behind the scenes in Denver’s front office since 2013.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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The proposals also call for hiring consultants and requiring regular reports on the transition.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Big tech companies are competing for dominance in artificial intelligence, borrowing to build data centers and other infrastructure.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The utility business model involves borrowing substantial sums to invest in networks and later recovering costs from customers.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Nevertheless, the state’s governor, attorney general and legislative leaders were meeting to discuss how the state would respond.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Originally launched in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood, The Longest Table has become a national movement, designed to get neighbors talking to each other and meeting new friends.—
Connie Ogle
April 30,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury is employing a PCR thermocycler that cuts the time to get a diagnosis from days to just merely hours.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
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If tax records and documents do not add up, employers and employees may be arrested and detained as investigators sort out who is illegally present in the United States or illegally employing workers.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bubbles Didn’t Enter The Picture That Early In one of the moist unintentionally hilarious moments in the movie, Michael shocks his family by adopting a CGI baby chimpanzee named Bubbles sometime around 1979.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The Hallfords’ case prompted laws mandating routine inspections and adopting a funeral director licensing system.—
Colleen Slevin,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Across New York, students are already encountering hate.—
Samantha Hirsch,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
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Something that really drove me nuts in art history was encountering people who felt like what their job was to exercise taste.—
Lilyanna D'Amato,
ARTnews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The teens were also said to have been involved in online groups recruiting fighters for IS militants in Syria and shared a fascination with violence and hatred against Jews, LGBTQ+ people and others, officials said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Uldricks said his role as GOP chair includes recruiting good people to run for office.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taking on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taking%20on. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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