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

• takingness noun
• takingly adverb
• untaking adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of taking¹

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

Example Sentences

The English movie star has not been seen since reportedly taking an enforced break from acting after suffering concussion while filming in Watford.

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Swinney said the Scottish government was taking all the steps it can within its resources to ensure NHS performance matches the expectations of the public.

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We’ve all seen “desire paths,” those informal shortcuts that human feet etch in the ground near designated walkways as we insist on taking a more direct route to our destination.

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On 4 October, Mr Altman blogged that the firm had been "learning quickly from how people are using Sora and taking feedback from users, rights holders, and other interested groups".

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Now, for the first time, a woman is taking aim at a 4-minute mile.

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