take on
[verb]
Synonyms: don, assume, pull, put on, strike, add, annex, append, subjoin, superadd, take up, undertake, engage, encounter, face, meet, employ, hire, adopt, embrace, espouse

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Antonyms: give up
Contrasted words: abandon, drop, forsake
Related Idioms: set about, take upon oneself
Related Words: begin, commence, enter (upon), attempt, endeavor, try, launch, venture

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

take somebody/something ↔ on phrasal verb (see also take)

1. take somebody ↔ on to start to employ someone ⇒ hire:
We’re taking on 50 new staff this year.

2. take something ↔ on to agree to do some work or be responsible for something:
Don’t take on too much work – the extra cash isn’t worth it.

3. take something ↔ on to begin to have a particular quality or appearance:
Her face took on a fierce expression.
His life had taken on a new dimension.

4. take somebody ↔ on to compete against someone or start a fight with someone, especially someone bigger or better than you:
Nigeria will take on Argentina in the first round of the World Cup on Saturday.
He was prepared to take on anyone who laid a finger on us.

5. take something ↔ on if a plane or ship takes on people or things, they come onto it:
We stopped to take on fuel.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

take on
take on (someone)
1.
to fight or compete against someone.
Later today, the World Cup champions take on Chile.

When you take a fighter like that on, you could end up in big trouble.

2.
to employ someone.
The law firm took on a new partner.

She wasn't sure if she should take a new programmer on right now.

take on (something)
1.
to begin to have something.
A chameleon can take on the color of the leaf it is on, making it hard to see.

Her voice took on a troubled tone.

2.
to fight against something.
You have to be well prepared to take on a large corporation.

We understand how this disease works, and we're ready to take it on.

3.
to accept something.
My sister took on the responsibility of caring for our elderly mother.

I knew it was going to be a difficult job I wouldn't want to take it on.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

take on something
take on (something)
1.
to begin to have something.
A chameleon can take on the color of the leaf it is on, making it hard to see.

Her voice took on a troubled tone.

2.
to fight against something.
You have to be well prepared to take on a large corporation.

We understand how this disease works, and we're ready to take it on.

3.
to accept something.
My sister took on the responsibility of caring for our elderly mother.

I knew it was going to be a difficult job I wouldn't want to take it on.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

take on
1. • take on (someone)
to give a job to someone, to hire/employ someone
The factory took on fifty new employees last month.

2. • take on (something)
1). to begin to do something, to commit oneself to something
Recently my father has begun to take on too many things at work and he has become very tired.

2). to load (something)
The ship took on most of its cargo the week before it left the port.

3. • take on (an employee)
to give a job to someone, to hire someone
The company took on many new workers during the busy holiday season.

4. • take (someone or something) on
to undertake to deal with someone or something
I decided to take the extra work on in order to make some extra money.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

take on something
• take on (something)
1. to begin to do something, to commit oneself to something
Recently my father has begun to take on too many things at work and he has become very tired.

2. to load (something)
The ship took on most of its cargo the week before it left the port.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

take something on
• take (someone or something) on
to undertake to deal with someone or something
I decided to take the extra work on in order to make some extra money.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

take on
v.
1. To receive for carrying; be loaded with.
A big ship was at the dock taking on automobiles in crates to carry overseas for sale.
The bus driver stopped at the curb to take the woman on.
2. To begin to have (the look of); take (the appearance of).
Others joined the fistfight until it took on the look of a riot.
After the students put up Christmas decorations, the classroom took on a holiday appearance.
3a. To give a job to; hire; employ.
The factory has opened and is beginning to take on new workers.
Antonym: LET GO⁴, LET OFF, LET OUT⁶.
3b. To accept in business or a contest.
The big man took on two opponents at once.
After his father died, Bill took on the management of the factory.
We knew their football team was bigger and stronger, but we took them on anyway and beat them.
4. informal To show great excitement, grief, or anger.
At the news of her husband's death she took on like a madwoman.
Compare: CARRY-ON.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲