take on

What does "take on" mean?

1. To accept a responsibility, job, or challenge
2. To hire or employ someone
3. To compete against someone
4. To begin to have a particular quality

Examples

• She took on the role of project manager.
• The company is taking on new employees this month.
• Our team will take on the champions in the final.
• Her voice took on a serious tone.
• Don't take on more work than you can handle.

How to use it

'Take on too much' is a common expression for accepting more than you can handle. Useful in professional contexts.

Word order

Separable: 'take something on' or 'take on something'; 'take someone on'

Similar expressions

Opposites

Related phrasal verbs

• take off

  To remove clothing or accessories

• take up

  To start a new hobby, activity, or interest

• take over

  To gain control of something (company, position, responsibility)

• take out

  To remove something from a place

• take back

  To return something to a store

• take away

  To remove something or someone from a place