Phrasal Verbs with Take
TAKE is everywhere in spoken English — and it builds a huge number of phrasal verbs. Here are the most useful ones, with meanings and examples, plus a quick practice to lock them in.
Common phrasal verbs with TAKE
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| take after (sb) | resemble (a family member) | John takes after his grandfather — same humour. |
| take back | return to a shop; retract | I’m sorry I said that — I take it back. |
| take down | remove; write down | We took down the Christmas decorations. |
| take in | give shelter; understand | I took my friend in for a month. |
| take off | leave the ground; become popular | Social media has taken off worldwide. |
| take (sth) off | remove clothing; have time off | Jamie took three days off to go skiing. |
| take on | accept work; hire; compete with | Do you have time to take on a new project? |
| take out | remove; treat someone (pay) | I’m taking my girlfriend out to dinner. |
| take over | take control | She always takes over everything. |
| take to | start to like; start a habit | He’s taken to tennis like a duck to water. |
| take up | fill space/time; start a hobby | I’ve recently taken up yoga. |
| take up with (sb) | complain to | If it’s wrong, take it up with my manager. |
Quick practice
Fill the gaps, then check your answers.
- He’s so like his mum — he really ______ ______ her.
- The plane ______ ______ exactly on time.
- I’ve recently ______ ______ surfing — it’s addictive!
- If you’re not happy, ______ it ______ ______ the manager.
Show answers
1. takes after · 2. took off · 3. taken up · 4. take it up with
Tip: write your own example sentence for each new phrasal verb — making it personal helps it stick. Learn English in Byron Bay with Lexis English: General English, IELTS, Cambridge (FCE/CAE) and English plus Surfing and Yoga, minutes from the beach.
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