Meanings
verbtake the offensive (third-person singular simple present takes the offensive, present participle taking the offensive, simple past took the offensive, past participle taken the offensive)
present singular third person takes the offensive · participle present taking the offensive · past took the offensive · participle past taken the offensive
Synonyms & antonyms
verbTo attack instead of defending; to be bold and proactive.
Similar
go on the offensive
Translations
Russian перейти́ в наступле́ние
- перейти́ в наступле́ние (perejtí v nastuplénije)attack instead of defending; to be bold and proactive
Swedish gå på offensiven
- gå på offensivenattack instead of defending; to be bold and proactive
Cite this entry
APA
take the offensive. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20the%20offensive
MLA
“take the offensive.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20the%20offensive. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “take the offensive,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20the%20offensive.
Source: take the offensive on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.