taking someone at their word

A form of take someone at their word — To take someone literally even though they may not have been serious; to take someone seriously even though they were joking; to take up a challenge that was initially meant as a joke.

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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of take someone at their word
Cite this entry
APA

taking someone at their word. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taking%20someone%20at%20their%20word

MLA

“taking someone at their word.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taking%20someone%20at%20their%20word. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “taking someone at their word,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taking%20someone%20at%20their%20word.

Source: taking someone at their word on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.