Phrasal verbs can be tricky, but they are essential for understanding and speaking English fluently. In this post, we will focus on phrasal verbs with the word take. We’ll explain each one with examples, their meanings, and provide you with exercises to practice.

Common Phrasal Verbs with Take

Here are some of the most common phrasal verbs with take. Each phrasal verb is followed by an example sentence and its meaning.

1. Take offThe plane will take off in a few minutes.

   Meaning: To leave the ground and begin to fly.

2. Take onShe decided to take on more responsibilities at work.

   Meaning: To accept or begin to deal with something, such as a job or responsibility.

3. Take overWhen the manager retired, his son took over the business.

   Meaning: To assume control of something.

4. Take upHe took up painting as a hobby after he retired.

   Meaning: To start doing a new activity.

5. Take outHe took out a loan to buy a new car.

   Meaning: To remove something or to arrange to get something, such as a loan.

6. Take backI had to take back the dress because it didn’t fit.

   Meaning: To return something to where it was bought.

7. Take inShe was taken in by the scam.

   Meaning: To be deceived by someone or something.

8. Take afterShe really takes after her mother in her love for cooking.

   Meaning: To resemble someone, especially a family member.

9. Take downThe police took down his statement.

   Meaning: To write something down.

10. Take awayThey took away his driving license after the accident.

    Meaning: To remove or subtract something.

11. Take apartHe took the clock apart to see how it worked.

    Meaning: To disassemble something.

12. Take off (informal)I need to take off; I have a meeting.

    Meaning: To leave a place quickly.

13. Take over (informal)During the meeting, she took over and led the discussion.

    Meaning: To dominate or control something, often unexpectedly.

14. Take in (clothing)She took in the dress because it was too large.

    Meaning: To make a piece of clothing smaller.

15. Take out (food)We decided to take out Chinese food tonight.

    Meaning: To order food from a restaurant to eat at home.

16. Take up withHe took up with a new group of friends after moving to the city.

    Meaning: To become friendly or start a relationship with someone, often a new person.

17. Take down (informal)He was taken down in the wrestling match.

    Meaning: To defeat or bring someone or something to the ground.

18. Take on (appearance)The project took on a new look after the redesign.

    Meaning: To begin to have a certain appearance or quality.

19. Take back (words)He took back what he said when he realized it was hurtful.

    Meaning: To retract something you’ve said.

20. Take throughLet me take you through the process step by step.

    Meaning: To explain something in detail.

21. Take off (success)Her business really took off after she launched the new product.

    Meaning: To suddenly become successful or popular.

22. Take over fromShe will take over from me when I leave.

    Meaning: To replace someone in a job or role.

23. Take up (space/time)The meeting took up most of the afternoon.

    Meaning: To occupy space or time.

24. Take in (understanding)It was a lot of information to take in at once.

    Meaning: To absorb or understand something.

25. Take up (challenge)He took up the challenge and completed the marathon.

    Meaning: To accept or engage in something challenging.

26. Take out onDon’t take out your anger on me.

    Meaning: To express your feelings, often negative, toward someone who is not the cause.

27. Take off (remove clothing)Please take off your shoes before entering the house.

    Meaning: To remove an item of clothing.

28. Take up (offer)He took up the company’s offer for relocation.

    Meaning: To accept an offer.

29. Take toShe quickly took to her new job.

    Meaning: To become fond of or skilled at something quickly.

30. Take out ofThis movie really takes you out of your everyday worries.

    Meaning: To distract or remove someone from a situation mentally or emotionally.

Practice Exercises

Now that you have learned some of the most common phrasal verbs with take, it’s time to practice! Below are 30 exercises to test your understanding.

1. The plane will _________ in a few minutes.
2. She decided to _________ more responsibilities at work.
3. When the manager retired, his son _________ the business.
4. He _________ painting as a hobby after he retired.
5. He _________ a loan to buy a new car.
6. I had to _________ the dress because it didn’t fit.
7. She was _________ by the scam.
8. She really _________ her mother in her love for cooking.
9. The police _________ his statement.
10. They _________ his driving license after the accident.
11. He _________ the clock apart to see how it worked.
12. I need to _________; I have a meeting.
13. During the meeting, she _________ and led the discussion.
14. She _________ the dress because it was too large.
15. We decided to _________ Chinese food tonight.
16. He _________ with a new group of friends after moving to the city.
17. He was _________ in the wrestling match.
18. The project _________ a new look after the redesign.
19. He _________ what he said when he realized it was hurtful.
20. Let me _________ you through the process step by step.
21. Her business really _________ after she launched the new product.
22. She will _________ from me when I leave.
23. The meeting _________ most of the afternoon.
24. It was a lot of information to _________ at once.
25. He _________ the challenge and completed the marathon.
26. Don’t _________ your anger on me.
27. Please _________ your shoes before entering the house.
28. He _________ the company’s offer for relocation.
29. She quickly _________ her new job.
30. This movie really _________ you out of your everyday worries.

Answers to Exercises

1. take off
2. take on
3. took over
4. took up
5. took out
6. take back
7. taken in
8. takes after
9. took down
10. took away
11. took apart
12. take off
13. took over
14. took in
15. take out
16. took up
17. taken down
18. took on
19. took back
20. take through
21. took off
22. take over
23. took up
24. take in
25. took up
26. take out on
27. take off
28. took up
29. took to
30. takes out of

Conclusion

Phrasal verbs with take are used frequently in everyday English. By practicing them, you’ll become more confident in your English communication. Keep practicing and soon you’ll master these phrasal verbs!