takes
takes
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "takes" is /teɪks/.
It's a single-syllable word composed of four distinct sounds:
/t/: The initial voiceless sound made by tapping the tip of the tongue against the ridge behind the upper teeth.
/eɪ/: The long "a" vowel sound, like in "make" or "say."
/k/: A voiceless sound produced at the back of the mouth, as in "cat."
/s/: The final hissing sound made by forcing air through a narrow channel made by the tongue, as in "snake."
Word Form Variations
The word "takes" is a form of the root verb take.
Infinitive: take
Third-person singular present: takes
Present participle: taking
Simple past: took
Past participle: taken
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb (take)
To get ahold of, grasp, or acquire possession of something.
Synonyms: grab, seize, get, obtain
Antonyms: give, release, offer
To carry or move something or someone from one location to another.
Synonyms: bring, transport, convey
Antonyms: leave, abandon
To require a certain amount of time, effort, or resources.
Synonyms: need, require, demand
Antonyms: none
To accept, receive, or agree to something offered.
Synonyms: accept, receive, welcome
Antonyms: refuse, reject, decline
To capture, win, or gain control over something.
Synonyms: capture, conquer, win
Antonyms: lose, surrender, relinquish
To consume, ingest, or use, as with food, drink, or medicine.
Synonyms: eat, drink, consume
Antonyms: abstain, forgo
Noun (take)
The total amount of money received from an enterprise or event; the proceeds. 💰
Synonyms: revenue, earnings, profit, gate
Antonyms: loss, expense, outlay
A particular opinion, perspective, or interpretation of a subject.
Synonyms: viewpoint, perspective, opinion, slant
Antonyms: none
A single, continuous recording of a scene during filmmaking or a musical performance. 🎬
Synonyms: shot, recording, version
Antonyms: none
Examples of Use
In Literature and Books
As the title and a key line in a famous poem, referring to a choice made:
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— / I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference." (From "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost)Used in a popular self-help book to describe proactively seizing control of one's life:
"Highly proactive people recognize that responsibility. They do not blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice, based on values, rather than a product of their conditions, based on feeling." The first habit is "Take initiative." (From The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey)
In News and Online Publications
Describing a change in leadership or control in a business context:
"Elon Musk takes control of Twitter in $44 billion deal" (Associated Press, October 2022)Referring to a specific perspective or opinion on a current event:
"Here's our take on the latest inflation report and what it means for your wallet." (CNBC, September 2025)Used to describe the process of capturing a photograph for a news story:
"The photo, taken by a Reuters journalist, quickly went viral, becoming a symbol of the protest."
In Entertainment (Film, TV, and Music)
As a simple, direct command in a popular song title and chorus:
"Take On Me" (Song by A-ha)Used as a movie title, where the past participle form implies that someone has been abducted:
Taken (2008 film starring Liam Neeson)A common line in television or film when a character feels an action is requiring too much time:
"Hurry up! This is taking forever!"
In Public Discourse and Speeches
As a well-known proverb about communal responsibility, often used in discussions about parenting and education:
"It takes a village to raise a child." (African Proverb)A common idiom advising someone to be skeptical of something they are told:
"He tends to exaggerate, so take everything he says with a grain of salt."From a historic speech, used to frame a challenge not as a burden but as a chosen endeavor:
"We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too." (John F. Kennedy, September 1962). The phrase "takes courage" is often used in similar contexts.
10 Famous Quotes Using Takes
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. (Winston Churchill)
If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself. (Henry Ford)
It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. (Warren Buffett)
A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. (Colin Powell)
It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it. (Benjamin Franklin)
It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. (E.E. Cummings)
A leader takes people where they want to go; a great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be. (Rosalynn Carter)
It takes a long time to become young. (Pablo Picasso)
It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech. (Mark Twain)
A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit. (Arnold H. Glasow)
Etymology
The word take has a fascinating history that starts with the Vikings.
From Old Norse to English
The word comes to us from the Old Norse word taka, which meant "to touch, lay hold of, or grasp." Viking raids and settlements in England starting in the late 8th century brought this word into the local language.
Before the Vikings arrived, people speaking Old English used the word niman for the same idea. You can still see traces of niman in modern words like "numb," which originally meant "taken" or "seized" by cold or shock.
Over time, the powerful and common Norse word taka began to push out the native Old English niman. By the 1200s, "take" had become the dominant verb for this meaning. This is a great example of how language evolves through cultural contact and exchange.
So, when you "take" something, you're using a word that sailed across the North Sea with Viking warriors and traders over a thousand years ago. It first appeared in written English around the 11th century, carrying its core meaning of grabbing or seizing something physically. From there, its meaning expanded to include all the different ways we use it today.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Takes
Take it or leave it: An offer that is final and not open to negotiation.
Take it with a grain of salt: To be skeptical about something or not believe it completely.
Take the cake: To be the most remarkable or outrageous example of something.
Take a rain check: To politely refuse an offer, with the implication that you may accept it at a later time.
Take five: To have a short, five-minute break from an activity. ☕
Take the plunge: To commit to a significant and often risky course of action after a period of hesitation.
Take it on the chin: To accept misfortune or criticism bravely and without complaining.
Take a back seat: To accept a less prominent or active role.
It takes two to tango: A situation or conflict involves two people who are both responsible.
Take a leaf out of someone's book: To imitate someone's good behavior or successful methods.
Take the wind out of someone's sails: To say or do something that causes someone to lose their confidence or momentum.
Take someone for a ride: To deceive, trick, or cheat someone.
Take a shine to someone: To develop a quick liking for someone.
Take sides: To support one person or group against another in a dispute.
Give and take: The process of compromise and mutual concession.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of takes from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
