taking

[tey-king]

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.

adjective

1. captivating, winning, or pleasing.

2. Archaic.,  infectious or contagious.

taking

/ ˈteɪkɪŋ /

adjective

1. charming, fascinating, or intriguing

2. informal,  infectious; catching

noun

1. something taken

2. (plural) receipts; earnings

Other Word Forms

• takingly adverb
• untaking adjective
• takingness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of taking¹

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

Example Sentences

It’s taking longer for the unemployed to find work and Americans say new jobs have become harder to find.

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“He could dumb down the important things,” she said, “so that we would leave the church service or leave the lecture taking something with us.”

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But she warns: “Until laws change or social norms shift, parents are the first and sometimes the only line of defense against devices taking over their children’s lives.”

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Most filers save money by taking the standard deduction instead of itemizing deductions, which can include charitable donations and medical expenses.

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The stunt was pulled off by activists aiming to save the reactor, taking a page from the antinuclear playbook of Greenpeace and other groups who long sought to close it.

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