take on

British  

verb

1. to employ or hire

   to take on new workmen

2. to assume or acquire

   his voice took on a plaintive note

3. to agree to do; undertake

   I'll take on that job for you

4. to compete against, oppose, or fight

   I will take him on at tennis

   I'll take him on any time

5. informal (intr) to exhibit great emotion, esp grief

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take on Idioms  

1. Undertake or begin to deal with, as in I took on new responsibilities , or She took on too much when she accepted both assignments . [Early 1300s]

2. Hire, engage, as in We take on extra workers during the busy season . [Early 1600s]

3. Oppose in competition, as in This young wrestler was willing to take on all comers . [Late 1800s]

4. Display strong emotion, as in Don't take on so . [ Colloquial ; early 1400s]

5. Acquire as, or as if, one's own, as in He took on the look of a prosperous banker . [Late 1700s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

take on

"We need players. It's fairly obvious," former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler told BBC Sport in New York, where the Reds take on Wrexham on Wednesday.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Our culture is surely strong enough to survive his distinctive take on one of its canons.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

Generously sized and steered toward realism, the director’s take on Odysseus is epically satisfying, even if it skimps on the character’s ego and lust.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

Brindle added it’s “not surprising at all” that men said they were more likely to take on the gamble.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

To Celia’s ears, the sounds no longer resolve into words, and she frowns as her father’s responses take on the same muddled quality.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern