- present participle of take.
taking
Americannoun
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the act of a person or thing that takes.
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the state of being taken.
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something that is taken.
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an action by the federal government, as a regulatory ruling, that imposes a restriction on the use of private property for which the owner must be compensated.
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takings, receipts, especially of money earned or gained.
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Archaic. a state of agitation or distress.
adjective
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captivating, winning, or pleasing.
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Archaic. infectious or contagious.
adjective
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charming, fascinating, or intriguing
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informal infectious; catching
noun
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something taken
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(plural) receipts; earnings
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of taking
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English takyng (gerund); see take, -ing 1, -ing 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After that period, he was no longer the little boy who cried, but a fully-fledged top-flight star capable of taking each step and challenge in his stride.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
When Aschenbrenner’s hedge fund unraveled last month, veterans on Wall Street saw it as the latest cautionary tale of hubris—another inexperienced, overconfident investor taking on too much risk with far too much leverage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Drummond narrowly finished ahead of Mazzei in the first round in June, with both taking around a quarter of the vote.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
And Freddie had his sights set on becoming a CPA and taking over his dad’s business.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
The forest ripped past Clare in a crimson smear, his reeling mind taking a beat too long to reach the horrid realization: The hour had struck midnight.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
