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

"When he is on the pitch he knows how to create chances, take on defenders and where to get the ball. From there, he is growing every single game."

From BBC • Jun. 21, 2026

Daiki Kaneko had only 24 hours before his World Cup journey took him to Dallas, where his home country’s squad will take on Sweden.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2026

Astronomical demand for AI computing has emboldened a host of challengers, including veteran rivals such as Advanced Micro Devices and Broadcom, as well as newer entrants like Cerebras Systems, to take on Nvidia.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

Say what you will about UFC fighters, but at least the weight class means they’re required to take on opponents who can fight back.

From Salon • Jun. 17, 2026

“There are only ever thirty agents per outpost. They take on only the most dangerous missions.”

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston