take something as it comes

verb

To accept and deal with something (an event, etc.) as it occurs, with a composed state of mind.

“take life as it comes”

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Meanings

verbtake something as it comes (third-person singular simple present takes something as it comes, present participle taking something as it comes, simple past took something as it came, past participle taken something as it came)

present singular third person takes something as it comes · participle present taking something as it comes · past took something as it came · participle past taken something as it came

  1. idiomaticTo accept and deal with something (an event, etc.) as it occurs, with a composed state of mind.

    take life as it comes

    2 more examples

    There are really no hardships if you take things as they come and make the best of them.

    1899 February 5, “Klondike Reminiscences”, in New York Times, page 15

    He also urges Louie: “Take things as they come and keep smiling. Keep your spirits up, my dear. Be of good cheer and all will be well.”

    2002 December 27, Sam Lister, “Lost love story of the valiant rifleman”, in Times Online, UK, retrieved 25 Jul 2008

Translations

Finnish ottaa asiat sellaisina kuin ne tulevat
  • ottaa asiat sellaisina kuin ne tulevattake things as they come
French prendre les choses comme elles viennent
  • prendre les choses comme elles viennenttake things as they come
German etwas nehmen, wie es kommt
  • etwas nehmen, wie es kommttake things as they come
Spanish tomárselo a medida que viene
  • tomárselo a medida que vienetake things as they come
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

“take something as it comes.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20something%20as%20it%20comes. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “take something as it comes,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20something%20as%20it%20comes.

Source: take something as it comes on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.