take time
idiom
1
: to need or require time to happen or be done
You have to be patient. Things like this take time.
It may take some time for the medication to wear off.
The meeting won't take too much time.
This job is easy and will take no time at all.
2
or take the time
: to use an amount of time in order to do something important
They never took the time to get to know her.
I took some time to think about it, and my answer is still "no."
Examples of take time in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tight ends take time to develop — Tremble played just two college seasons and doesn’t turn 25 until June.
—
Vic Tafur, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
Between the lines: Such flips take time, money, and, often, government help.
—Sami Sparber, Axios, 22 Feb. 2025
These outbreaks take time to resolve and for the impact to filter through all parts of the supply chain.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
They will then be brought back to Israel for forensic testing to verify their identity and, if possible, establish the cause of death, which could take time.
—Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take time
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Vic Tafur, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
Between the lines: Such flips take time, money, and, often, government help.
—Sami Sparber, Axios, 22 Feb. 2025
These outbreaks take time to resolve and for the impact to filter through all parts of the supply chain.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
They will then be brought back to Israel for forensic testing to verify their identity and, if possible, establish the cause of death, which could take time.
—Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take time
Cite this Entry
“Take time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20time. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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