1
as in to substitute
to serve as a replacement usually for a time only
I'll take over for her until she gets back from her morning break
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to accept
to take to or upon oneself
took over the responsibility of caring for the animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to seize
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
students protesting the war took over the college's radio station
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in seizure
the unlawful taking or withholding of something from the rightful owner under a guise of authority
the new government's high-handed takeover of private industries
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of take over
Michela Wrong, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2025
In December, McMullen's quest to take over Albertsons was blocked by two court orders and Albertsons pulled out of the deal, the Enquirer reported.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
The big picture: An MPD takeover would be a dramatic power consolidation.
—Cuneyt Dil, Axios, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take over
Verb
Still, for the moment, the chances of the current rebel alliance taking over Kinshasa seem slim.
—Michela Wrong, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2025
In December, McMullen's quest to take over Albertsons was blocked by two court orders and Albertsons pulled out of the deal, the Enquirer reported.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
Noun
Rangers have appointed former captain Barry Ferguson as interim manager until the end of the season — but no long-term appointments will be made until the takeover is complete.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
The big picture: An MPD takeover would be a dramatic power consolidation.
—Cuneyt Dil, Axios, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take over
Recent Examples of Synonyms for take over
Verb
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The Broncos extended their lead to as many as 35 points with 5 minutes remaining before Rice substituted liberally.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Mar. 2025
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No amount of restorative justice or professional counseling will substitute for proper conduct.—
Vincent Turley,
Hartford Courant,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Hamas had refused to accept a proposal from Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, which would extend the ceasefire to April 20, through both the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Passover.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau began accepting complaints about rental debt collection in August 2023.—
Ana Teresa Solá,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In a lightning three-week offensive, the M23 took control of eastern Congo's main city Goma and seized the second largest city, Bukavu.—
JANVIER BARHAHIGA AND MONIKA PRONCZUK THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
arkansasonline.com,
28 Feb. 2025
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Late last year, a U.K. court ruled that police can seize more than 2.6 million pounds ($3.3 million) to cover years of unpaid taxes from the pair and freeze some of their accounts.—
STEPHEN McGRATH,
TIME,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Christian's doctors also discussed the possible need for a high-risk surgery; he's been experiencing seizures, ultimately keeping him in the PICU. Dog and His Owner Help Save Pa.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
21 Feb. 2025
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As many as one out of every 20 children with measles gets pneumonia, the leading cause of death in children with the virus, and one child out of every 1,000 who gets measles will develop encephalitis, which can cause seizures, deafness and developmental disability, says CDC data.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA TODAY,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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After a brief back and forth, Birt, who was standing in for the absent board president Charles Randklev, called for a 10-minute recess.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Feb. 2025
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Sources told officers that those participating in the event had been standing in a line as part of the initiation process when Wilson reportedly collapsed, per the station.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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French President Emmanuel Macron has long sought to position himself at the forefront of a major shift in Europe's security outlook, one that would see the continent invest significantly more in defense spending and assume greater autonomy from the United States.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
21 Feb. 2025
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Markle’s choice led to an onslaught of emails and DMs from all over the world inquiring whether there was an association between the two companies or mistakenly assuming — and criticizing — that decision, Kolski said.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
WWD,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Oleksandr Prokudin, head of Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, which was mostly occupied by Russia early in the war but later partially retaken by Ukrainian forces, said three years of war had hardened his countrymen to the ups and downs of the fight to survive.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2025
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The property occupies a sizable 7,500-square-foot lot.—
Bay Area Home Report,
The Mercury News,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Congress failed to pass regular annual spending appropriations, instead resorting to a short-term continuing resolution.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
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Enacted in 1974, the law aimed to reassert Congress' power of the purse by providing the procedures for when a president wants to suspend appropriations that have already been approved by Congress.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
21 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Take over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/take%20over. Accessed 8 Mar. 2025.
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