Synonyms

take its toll

Idioms

Be damaging or harmful, cause loss or destruction, as in The civil war has taken its toll on both sides, or The heavy truck traffic has taken its toll on the highways. This expression transfers the taking of toll, a tribute or tax, to exacting other costs. [Late 1800s]

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.

But that same physicality can take its toll in the latter stages of the Champions League, when players are feeling the strain after eight months of relentless action.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

Of course, Wikipedians are human, and the harassment many of them receive can take its toll.

From Slate • Oct. 22, 2025

"A lot of players have started all the matches. You can understand why it would take its toll."

From BBC • Jul. 17, 2025

As global warming continues to take its toll, the number of training cities gets smaller and cities able to host the Winter Olympics are fewer.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 1, 2024

But I guess popularity always has and always will take its toll on people.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023