taking

American  

[tey-king] / ˈteɪ kɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that takes.

2. the state of being taken. taken.

3. something that is taken. taken.

4. 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.

5. takings, receipts, especially of money earned or gained.

6. Archaic. a state of agitation or distress.

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adjective

1. captivating, winning, or pleasing.

2. Archaic. infectious or contagious.

taking British  

/ ˈteɪkɪŋ /

adjective

1. charming, fascinating, or intriguing

2. informal infectious; catching

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noun

1. something taken

2. (plural) receipts; earnings

Other Word Forms

• takingly adverb
• takingness noun
• untaking adjective

Etymology

Origin of taking

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English takyng (gerund); take, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

So, are Spurs' current problems simply down to them taking their eye off the ball in terms of what is happening on the pitch, and being too focused on what is happening off it?

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

"When there's no wind or storm, not a week goes by without flights taking off from here. The hangar door opens right onto the runway. That's a real competitive advantage," said Canguilhem.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Hip-hop star J. Cole is taking his basketball dreams overseas — again.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

U.S. home builders and car manufacturers are taking a hit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

The birds flew fast and into the sun, so Torak didn’t even bother taking aim, knowing he’d never hit one.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver