take on

present singular third person takes on · participle present taking on · past took on · participle past taken on

1. To acquire, bring in, or introduce.

   The ship took on cargo in Norfolk yesterday.

   1 more example

   The first of 14 Class 68s to be taken on by Chiltern Railways (68020) has been reliveried in the company's new dark blue livery.

   2025 October 1, “News in brief: '68' gains new livery”, in RAIL, number 1045, page 13

   1. To obtain the services of (a person) in exchange for remuneration; to give someone a job.

      Taking on a first employee should be done with care and consideration.

2. idiomaticTo begin to have or exhibit.

   In the dark, the teddy bear took on the appearance of a fearsome monster.

3. idiomaticTo assume or take responsibility for.

   I'll take on the project if no one else will.

   3 more examples

   He took on the children's welfare as an extra charge.

   This type of marriage was always fraught with divorce because in most cases the old creditor, instead of allowing one of his male children to marry the girl, would take her on himself. For the fact that flirting was a serious taboo within the society, the girl would bolt away[…].

   1987, Nigeria Magazine, volumes 55-56, Government of Nigeria, page 27

   She was 78, I think, and if there was only one customer, she’d take him on sometimes.

   2005, Elaine McKewon, “The Scarlet Mile”, in A Social History of Prostitution in Kalgoorlie, 1894-2004, University of Western Australia Press, page 74

   1. UKidiomaticTo accept (feedback).

      Thanks for your comments, I'll take them on.

4. idiomaticTo attempt to fight, compete with, or engage with.

   I don't recommend taking on that bully, since he's bigger than you are.

   3 more examples

   “I’ll bet, despite the fact that the Tenhausens picked you as a soul-mate for June Atterman, that if Beth Hillyer took of[f] her clothes and shook herself at you, you’d point right in the air and be ready to take her on.”

   1990, Robert H. Rimmer, The Harrad Experiment, Prometheus Books, page 93

   I don't find that sexy. I tell her to take her time and try to be friends and work her way in. Then I might see something nice in her and take her on.

   2003, George Gmelch, Behind the smile: The working lives of Caribbean tourism, Indiana University Press, page 129

   I'll be interested to see how this service does. It will be basic with fares to match, so will be akin to a budget airline taking on a flag-carrier.

   2021 June 30, Philip Haigh, “Regional trains squeezed as ECML congestion heads north”, in RAIL, number 934, page 52

5. ball gamesTo (attempt to) dribble round (an opposition player).

   He drifted past four Palace players and took on two more before crossing to the far post, where Fellaini touched on for Mata to score. It was a momentum-shifting moment.

   2016 May 22, Phil McNulty, “Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United”, in BBC

6. colloquialintransitiveTo catch on, do well; to become popular.

   He had enough money to stock it well, and it took on; but the side of the business he did best on was his travelling shop.

   1974, GB Edwards, The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, New York, published 2007, page 225

7. idiomaticintransitiveTo grieve or be concerned (about something or someone).

   Oh Minister, don't take on so (laugh track). We will still be seeing one another regularly (laugh track).

   1984 December 17, Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn, “Party Games (Yes Minister)”, in Yes Minister, spoken by Humphrey Appleby (Nigel Hawthorne)

   2 more examples

   But I am one of those that never take on about princely fortunes, and am quite content if the world is ready to board and lodge me, while I am putting up at this grim sign of the Thunder Cloud.

   1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “chapter 16”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC

   So she hung crying, lopsided and ludicrous on the seat of the buggy […]. People passing looked at her and wondered why she was taking on. There was something almost obscene about a strong, healthy woman blubbering in the sunlight in that public place.

   1955, Patrick White, chapter 13, in The Tree of Man, New York: Viking, pages 198–199

8. UKintransitivegovernmentTo enlist into military service.