1
as in substituted
to serve as a replacement usually for a time only
I'll take over for her until she gets back from her morning break
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in accepted
to take to or upon oneself
took over the responsibility of caring for the animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in seized
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
students protesting the war took over the college's radio station
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of took over
Plus this would be a combination of two successful railroads instead of many deals of the past where one thriving railroad took over another nearly bankrupt one in disrepair.
—
Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
In 2005, the Voštiar family took over the Prague hotel, and the Budapest Aria stayed with the Library Collection.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Apr. 2026
According to the Pier 39 website, within months over 300 sea lions complete took over the dock.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
The first relegation with Fulham should not be attributed solely to Parker, who took over when the side was 19th with just 10 matches to play.
—Andy Jones, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Kyle Hart took over with two outs and the bases loaded and ended the third before allowing a run in the fourth.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
Curry and Green took over from there.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
State police later took over the investigation at the direction of the Stamford State’s Attorney’s Office.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
That film also examined labor relations in the context of a Chinese auto glass manufacturer that took over a moribund GM plant in Ohio.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026
Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
In 2005, the Voštiar family took over the Prague hotel, and the Budapest Aria stayed with the Library Collection.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Apr. 2026
According to the Pier 39 website, within months over 300 sea lions complete took over the dock.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
The first relegation with Fulham should not be attributed solely to Parker, who took over when the side was 19th with just 10 matches to play.
—Andy Jones, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Kyle Hart took over with two outs and the bases loaded and ended the third before allowing a run in the fourth.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
Curry and Green took over from there.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
State police later took over the investigation at the direction of the Stamford State’s Attorney’s Office.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
That film also examined labor relations in the context of a Chinese auto glass manufacturer that took over a moribund GM plant in Ohio.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took over
Verb
-
In his press conference on Monday, Rosenior pointed out that one video of Fernandez appearing to walk past him after being substituted against Manchester United was cut before the player turned around and hugged him and shook his hand.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Prizes may not be substituted for or redeemed for cash.—
CBS LA Staff,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The lieutenant who handled his Skelly conference wrote that Webster accepted full responsibility for his actions and apologized.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Earlier this month, the city of Aurora accepted a grant from the state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity on behalf of Mutual Ground to make needed renovations.—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Authorities also seized multiple weapons, ammunition and explosive devices, the military said.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Some vessels with links to Iran made attempts to move through the strait, but others are staying away after Iran attacked three ships with gunfire earlier this week and seized two more.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Such screens would have stood in a palace hall, behind the main seat in a room, or in a courtyard as a backdrop for a ceremonial event.—
Lori Waxman,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
For decades, older adults have stood in long lines to buy food or medicine.—
Sarah Moreno
Updated April 29,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Then the ball was tipped, and Hyland assumed his role as an irritant of Denver’s corner shooters.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The experience gave me a front-row seat to the coast’s dramatic beauty, and also a lesson in the abundance of the Arctic, a region often assumed to be barren.—
Karen Gardiner,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Investigators later learned Hissom and her male passenger, who was wounded, were caught in a crossfire as a group of four or five men grabbed weapons from a vehicle and began firing at each other.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Aristide then allegedly charged at his brother, grabbed him by the neck and forced him to the ground, according to the report.—
Mauricio Maldonado,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Savannah Guthrie has been in the seat since 2012 and reported alongside Hoda Kotb for seven years before Craig Melvin stepped in following Kotb’s departure in 2025.—
Francesca Gariano,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Denver artist Reed Weimer and a group of like-minded friends stepped in, purchasing the property in 2016.—
Kevin Strong,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Rivers of Babylon, written in 1991 by the Slovak author Peter Pišťanek, tells the story of a young, simple-minded, and broad-shouldered ex-soldier called Rácz who leaves his impoverished village in the Slovakian countryside to work as the stoker of a hotel in Bratislava.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Apr. 2026
-
But everyone else shouldered the load.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Took over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20over. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
