- present participle of take.
taking
Americannoun
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the act of a person or thing that takes.
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the state of being taken.
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something that is taken.
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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.
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takings, receipts, especially of money earned or gained.
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Archaic. a state of agitation or distress.
adjective
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captivating, winning, or pleasing.
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Archaic. infectious or contagious.
adjective
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charming, fascinating, or intriguing
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informal infectious; catching
noun
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something taken
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(plural) receipts; earnings
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of taking
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English takyng (gerund); see take, -ing 1, -ing 2
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.
Taking in boarders or starting a business, he says, are better strategies than buying a stock and hoping it will grow.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026
Taking a stand will involve you untangling years of conditioning.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 27, 2026
Taking an alcohol marker, he tinted the lights a soft amber, allowing him to highlight the art in the room without adding harsh overhead lighting.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2026
Taking advantage of the station's microgravity environment, the facility enables experiments that cannot be performed on Earth.
From Science Daily • Jun. 23, 2026
Taking the sack of candy that Grandpa had given me, I started up to Daisy’s playhouse.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
