take on

4 meanings

Meanings
  1. 1 start to do or deal with (a job, task, or problem) B1
  2. 2 start to have a particular quality, meaning, or appearance B2
  3. 3 compete with or fight against someone, especially someone stronger B2
  4. 4 hire someone for a job B2
1 take sth on

start to do or deal with (a job, task, or problem)

B1

What does "take on" mean in this sense?

To take on a task, role, or responsibility means to agree to do it or make it your own — often when it involves effort, difficulty, or commitment. It suggests that someone has accepted a weight or obligation, not just started something new. You might take on a project at work, take on extra duties when a colleague is away, or take on the responsibility of leading a team. The phrase often appears with words like 'willing', 'ready', or 'refused', showing how people feel about accepting something demanding. It is one of the most common phrasal verbs in both everyday conversation and professional settings.

Examples

How to use it

take on + task/role/responsibility

The most common pattern — the object is a task, role, challenge, or responsibility that someone agrees to handle.

She agreed to take on the project even though her schedule was already full.

take + pronoun + on

When the object is a pronoun (it, them), it must go between 'take' and 'on' — never after 'on'.

The work looked difficult, but our team decided to take it on.

take + short noun object + on

Short noun phrases can also be placed between 'take' and 'on', and this is very natural in everyday speech.

He wasn't sure he could take the extra work on at such a busy time.

be taken on + by + person/organisation

The passive form is natural, especially in professional contexts when the focus is on the task rather than the person doing it.

The new contract was taken on by the most experienced team in the company.

willing/ready/able + to take on + task

This phrasal verb often appears after words that express willingness, readiness, or ability to accept a responsibility.

Not many people were willing to take on such a demanding role.

Common Collocations

a rolea responsibilitya challengea projectextra worktoo much

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placement

When you use a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'take' and 'on'. Placing the pronoun after 'on' is incorrect.

✗ The task was huge, but she decided to take on it.
✓ The task was huge, but she decided to take it on.
Confusing 'take on' with 'take up'

'Take up' is used for starting a hobby or new activity for its own sake, while 'take on' emphasises accepting a responsibility or workload — there is usually an implied effort or obligation.

✗ He took on cycling to stay healthy.
✓ He took up cycling to stay healthy. / He took on the responsibility of organising the event.
Separating long noun phrases

With long or complex noun phrases, it is more natural to keep 'take on' together and place the object after 'on'. Separating them sounds awkward.

✗ She took the responsibility of managing three departments on.
✓ She took on the responsibility of managing three departments.

Usage

Neutral and extremely common in both everyday and professional English. It often appears with words showing willingness or ability: 'willing to take on', 'ready to take on', 'refused to take on'.

2 take sth on

start to have a particular quality, meaning, or appearance

B2

Sense 2: What does "take sth on" mean?

This sense of 'take on' describes how something — a word, a story, a situation, a landscape — gradually acquires a new quality, appearance, or meaning. The change happens to the subject rather than being chosen by it; there is no deliberate decision involved. For example, a word might take on a darker meaning after a major event, or a room might take on a festive atmosphere during a celebration. What makes this phrasal verb distinctive is that the subject is almost always a thing or situation, never a person making a conscious choice, and the object is always an abstract quality like 'new significance', 'a different tone', or 'a life of its own'. The transformation it describes tends to feel gradual or contextual — something that emerges from circumstances rather than happening in an instant.

Examples

How to use it

subject (thing/situation) + take on + adjective + abstract noun

The most common pattern, where an inanimate subject gradually acquires a quality described by an adjective and abstract noun.

Once we knew the full story, her silence took on a completely different meaning.

subject + take on + a whole new + noun

A very fixed and frequent construction used to emphasise that the quality acquired is dramatically or surprisingly different from before.

After living abroad for a year, the concept of home took on a whole new significance for her.

subject + begin/start to + take on + quality

Adding 'begin to' or 'start to' before the phrasal verb highlights the gradual nature of the transformation.

As the trial continued, the case began to take on a political dimension that no one had anticipated.

subject + take on + it/them (separated)

When referring back to a quality already mentioned, pronoun objects are placed between 'take' and 'on', though rephrasing is often preferred in practice.

We had described the project as urgent from the start, but the situation really took it on as a defining characteristic only later.

Common Collocations

a new meaninga different tonegreater significancea life of its owna new dimensionadded urgency

Common Mistakes

Confusing with other senses of 'take on'

Because 'take on' has several meanings, the key is to look at the object. An abstract quality noun (new meaning, a darker tone) signals this sense. A person as the object signals the hiring sense, and a task or challenge as the object signals the 'accept responsibility' sense.

✗ The company took on a more professional image by hiring new staff.
✓ The company's brand took on a more professional image after the redesign. / The company took on new staff to improve its image.
Confusing 'take on' with 'take up'

'Take up' describes deliberately starting an activity, while 'take on' (this sense) describes an unplanned transformation in quality or character. The subject of 'take on' here is always a thing, not a person starting a hobby or habit.

✗ The story took up a mythical quality as it was retold across generations.
✓ The story took on a mythical quality as it was retold across generations.
Using a person as the subject

In this sense, the subject must be a thing, concept, or situation — not a person. When a person is the subject who 'acquires' something deliberately, you need a different verb entirely.

✗ She took on a confident tone during the presentation.
✓ Her voice took on a confident tone during the presentation.

Usage

This sense is neutral to slightly formal and is especially common in writing about how something changes or evolves — literary analysis, journalism, and narrative description. The subject is almost always a thing or situation, not a person.

3 take sb/sth on

compete with or fight against someone, especially someone stronger

B2

Sense 3: What does "take sb/sth on" mean?

To 'take on' someone means to challenge or compete directly against them, especially when that person or group is more powerful, experienced, or well-resourced than you. The phrase carries a strong sense of boldness or courage — it suggests the subject is the underdog, or at least that the opponent is formidable. You wouldn't normally use it to describe beating someone who is obviously weaker; the implied contest should feel risky or daring. It appears across sports, business rivalries, political battles, and legal disputes. The expression 'take on the world' extends this idea further, suggesting a confident willingness to face any challenge, no matter how big.

Examples

How to use it

subject + take on + opponent

The most common structure: the opponent — a person, team, or organisation — follows directly after 'on'.

The small environmental group decided to take on one of the largest oil companies in the country.

be willing/ready/afraid + to take on + opponent

Modal and adjective phrases before the infinitive are extremely common, reflecting the boldness the phrase implies.

Not many lawyers are willing to take on the government, but she did it anyway.

dare + to take on + opponent

Used to emphasise how risky or audacious the challenge is.

Few clubs have ever dared to take on the league champions in their own stadium.

take on + all comers / the world / the odds

Fixed or near-fixed expressions that extend the meaning to facing any and all opponents or obstacles.

After winning the regional title, the team felt ready to take on the world.

Common Collocations

take on the championtake on a rivaltake on the governmenttake on the giantstake on the establishmenttake on the world

Common Mistakes

Trying to separate the verb

In this 'compete against' sense, 'take on' does not separate. The opponent always follows directly after 'on'. Putting the object between 'take' and 'on' sounds unnatural.

✗ She took the reigning champion on in the final round.
✓ She took on the reigning champion in the final round.
Confusing with the 'hire' sense

When the object is a person in a work setting, 'take on' means to employ them — not to challenge them. Context usually makes the difference clear, but be careful when the object is a named individual rather than a clear opponent.

Using it when the opponent is weaker

'Take on' implies boldness or an uphill battle. Using it to describe challenging someone weaker or less powerful than you sounds odd or boastful in the wrong way. Reserve it for situations where the opponent is at least equally matched, or clearly stronger.

✗ The world champion took on a complete beginner at the local club.
✓ The young amateur took on the world champion at the local club.

Usage

This phrase often implies the subject is the underdog or that the opponent is powerful — it suggests bravery or boldness. It is equally common in sports, business, and political contexts.

4 take sb on

hire someone for a job

B2

Sense 4: What does "take sb on" mean?

To 'take on' someone means to decide to employ them — to offer them a job and bring them into an organisation. It's commonly used when a company is growing, filling a vacancy, or running a seasonal recruitment drive. The focus is on the employer's decision to hire, rather than the process of applying or interviewing. This sense is particularly common in British English; American speakers are more likely to say 'hire' or 'bring someone on'. It suits both formal business writing and everyday conversation about work.

Examples

How to use it

take on + person/group

The most common pattern — the employer is the subject and the person or group being hired is the object.

The retailer is planning to take on extra staff before the holiday season.

take + pronoun + on

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'take' and 'on' — it cannot follow 'on'.

She was perfect for the role, so we took her on straight away.

take + short noun phrase + on

Short noun phrases can also be placed between the verb and particle, especially when referring to a specific person or small group.

The garage took two apprentices on at the start of the year.

be taken on + as + role

The passive form is very natural when the focus is on the person being hired rather than the employer, often with 'as' to specify the job title.

He was taken on as a trainee and quickly impressed the whole team.

take on + person/group + part-time / full-time

An adverb describing the type of employment can follow the full phrase to give more detail about the arrangement.

The café decided to take on two extra servers part-time over the summer.

Common Collocations

new staffemployeesgraduatesapprenticesworkerstemporary staff

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placement

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'take' and 'on'. Placing a pronoun after 'on' is not correct in standard English.

✗ We took on her immediately.
✓ We took her on immediately.
Confusing the 'hire' and 'undertake' senses

Using a task or responsibility as the object instead of a person signals a completely different meaning — 'to undertake something'. To convey hiring, always use a person or group of people as the object.

✗ The company took on a new project to fill the vacancy. (unclear meaning)
✓ The company took on a new developer to handle the project.
Separating with a very long noun phrase

While separation is natural with short phrases and pronouns, inserting a very long noun phrase between 'take' and 'on' can sound awkward. It's more natural to keep the verb together in those cases.

✗ We took twenty highly experienced international software engineers on last month.
✓ We took on twenty highly experienced international software engineers last month.

Usage

This meaning is more common in British English; American speakers usually say 'hire' or 'bring someone on'. It is neutral in register and suits both formal business writing and everyday conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'take on' always mean to accept a task or responsibility?

No — 'take on' has a few different meanings depending on the object. If the object is a person or team, it can mean to challenge or compete against them. If the object is workers or staff, it can mean to hire them. On this page, we focus only on the meaning of accepting or handling a task, role, or responsibility.

Can I say 'take on too much'? It doesn't have a specific object.

Yes, this is a very natural and common expression. 'Too much' acts as the object, and the phrase means that someone has accepted more work or responsibility than they can comfortably handle. For example: 'I think I've taken on too much this month.'

Can organisations or companies 'take on' something, or is it only for people?

Both people and organisations can take on tasks, projects, or responsibilities. It is very common in business English to say things like 'The firm took on the contract' or 'The government has taken on the challenge of reducing costs.'

Is 'take on' used in formal writing, or only in conversation?

'Take on' is neutral and works in both casual and formal contexts. You will find it in everyday conversation as well as in professional emails, reports, and job descriptions. For example, a business document might say 'The team has taken on additional responsibilities following the restructure.'

Can I use 'take on' in the passive, like 'a new meaning was taken on'?

This sounds very unnatural with this sense. Because the subject of 'take on' here is typically a thing undergoing a change — not an agent doing something deliberately — the passive doesn't fit well. It's best to keep the thing that transforms as the grammatical subject: 'The word took on a new meaning' rather than 'A new meaning was taken on by the word'.

What kinds of subjects and objects work with this sense of 'take on'?

The subject is almost always something inanimate or abstract — a word, a story, a debate, a landscape, a situation, even silence. The object is always an abstract quality: things like 'a new meaning', 'a darker tone', 'greater significance', or 'a life of its own'. If you find yourself writing a sentence where a person is the subject making a deliberate choice, this is not the right sense of 'take on'.

Can I say 'the situation is taking on a new urgency' — is the present continuous natural here?

Yes, the present continuous works well here and actually suits this sense nicely, because it emphasises that the transformation is happening gradually and is still in progress. You could also combine it with 'begin to': 'The situation is beginning to take on a new urgency'.

Is this sense of 'take on' more common in writing or in everyday speech?

It's common in both, but you'll see it especially often in written contexts like journalism, literary analysis, and narrative description — anywhere a writer wants to describe how something has shifted in character or feeling. In conversation, it's perfectly natural too, particularly when discussing how events or ideas have changed over time.

Does 'take on' here always suggest a gradual change, or can it describe something sudden?

It usually implies a gradual or contextual transformation — something that emerges from circumstances. That's why you often see it paired with 'begin to' or 'start to'. For a sudden, dramatic shift, other verbs like 'become' or 'acquire' might feel more natural, though 'take on' is not impossible in those contexts.

Does 'take on' always mean the person is the underdog?

Not always, but almost. The phrase strongly implies the opponent is powerful or formidable, which is why it conveys boldness. Using it when the subject is clearly the stronger party sounds unusual. It works best when there is a real sense of risk or courage involved in the challenge.

Can 'take on' be used in the passive, like 'The champions were taken on by the newcomers'?

It's grammatically possible, but it almost never appears in natural English with this meaning. Native speakers strongly prefer the active form: 'The newcomers took on the champions.' If you use the passive, it may sound awkward or overly formal.

Can I use 'take on' in the present continuous, like 'We are taking on our rivals this weekend'?

It's possible, but it sounds a little awkward in this sense. The simple present or future forms are more natural: 'We take on our rivals this weekend' or 'We will take on our rivals this weekend.' The present continuous works better when describing a genuinely ongoing contest rather than a scheduled event.

Does 'take on' only work in sports, or can I use it in other situations?

It works well beyond sports. It's very common in business rivalries, political contexts, and legal battles — for example, a startup taking on a tech giant, or an activist taking on the government. Any situation involving a direct challenge against a powerful opponent fits naturally.

What is the difference between 'take on someone' and 'take up something'?

'Take on' in this sense means to challenge or compete against an opponent — there is always a rival involved. 'Take up' means to start a new activity or hobby, like taking up tennis or photography. They are quite different and the objects they need are completely different types of things.

Is 'take on' used in the same way in American English?

This sense of 'take on' is more typical of British English. American speakers usually prefer 'hire' or 'bring someone on' in the same situations. If you're writing for a British audience or a British company, 'take on' is perfectly natural.

What kinds of people or groups can be the object of 'take on'?

The object should always be a person or group — for example, staff, workers, graduates, apprentices, trainees, or seasonal workers. Words like 'new employees', 'extra help', or simply 'fifty people' all work well. Avoid using tasks, roles, or responsibilities as the object, as that signals a different meaning.

Can 'take on' be used without an object, for example 'the company is taking on'?

It's grammatically possible, but it sounds incomplete without context. Listeners would expect you to finish the sentence with who is being hired. It's much more natural to always include the person or group being employed.

Does 'take on' always mean the same thing, or can it mean something different?

The same form 'take on' has several other meanings in English — for example, it can mean to accept a task or challenge, or to compete against someone. This page focuses only on the hiring meaning, which you can spot by the fact that the object is always a person or group of people.

Can I use 'take on' in a formal job advertisement or business report?

Yes — this phrasal verb is neutral in register and is regularly found in business news articles, job listings, and HR communications. You might see headlines like 'Tech firm takes on 200 new graduates' in a newspaper, or read in a company report that they 'took on additional staff to meet demand'.

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