take on board

verb

To accept a new idea or piece of advice, and act accordingly.

“Schools and colleges will have to take on board the views of young people and parents in their area.”

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Meanings

verbtake on board (third-person singular simple present takes on board, present participle taking on board, simple past took on board, past participle taken on board)

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

  1. To accept a new idea or piece of advice, and act accordingly.

    Schools and colleges will have to take on board the views of young people and parents in their area.

Origin

Figurative extension from the literal act of bringing something onto a marine vessel.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

take on board. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20on%20board

MLA

“take on board.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20on%20board. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “take on board,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20on%20board.

Source: take on board on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.