takentak‧en /ˈteɪkən/ verb 
Longman Language Activatorwhen something is not available
· She took a temporary job because a permanent job was not available.· In many Russian cities basic foodstuffs are unavailable.unavailable/not available to · This type of diet pill should be made unavailable to minors.
goods or products that are unobtainable are impossible to get or buy: · Fresh fruit is unobtainable at certain times of the year.· Good apartments to rent had become almost unobtainable.
if something that you really want is not to be had or not to be found you know it is not available at all because you have tried to get it everywhere: · At the moment warm woollen socks are not to be found anywhere in Bucharest.· Good legal advice is simply not to be had because of the shortage of lawyers.
if something such as a seat, room, or place is taken , someone has already arranged to use it and it is not available for other people to use: · I'm sorry - that seat is taken.
being used now if a room or machine is in use , it is being used by someone at the present time: · The meeting room is in use at the moment, so we'll have to go somewhere else.· All the photocopiers are in use. Could you come back later?
if seats, rooms, beds etc are occupied , they are being used and are therefore not available for anyone else to use: · All the chairs in the hall were occupied and at least 100 people had to stand.· We're having to turn patients away because all the beds are occupied.
if a seat in a train, theatre, restaurant etc is taken , it is not available because someone else is already sitting there or will be soon: · I'm sorry. This seat's taken.· There was nowhere to sit down in the hall. All the seats were taken.
British if a telephone line or a public toilet is engaged , someone else is using it: · Every time I try to call her, the line's engaged.· When the toilet is engaged, a red light shows above the door.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Her self-confidence had taken a battering. The president’s fortunes seem, at last, to have taken a turn for the better (=started to improve). His son had been taken captive (=became a prisoner) during the raid. Lilley has taken a lot of flak for his views on drugs. The concept is taken as a given in social studies. a family taken hostage at gunpoint The children were taken into protective custody. The treatment of breast cancer has taken a quantum leap forward. Years of smoking have taken their toll on his health. He must have taken a wrong turning in the dark.
Her self-confidence had taken a battering. The president’s fortunes seem, at last, to have taken a turn for the better (=started to improve). His son had been taken captive (=became a prisoner) during the raid. Lilley has taken a lot of flak for his views on drugs. The concept is taken as a given in social studies. British English, be taken/rushed/airlifted to the hospital American English· Three people were taken to hospital after a crash on the motorway.
a family taken hostage at gunpoint (=become ill suddenly)· Henry was suddenly taken ill and had to go to the hospital.
(=used to say to someone that you accept what they say)· All right, point taken – I should have asked you first.
The children were taken into protective custody. The treatment of breast cancer has taken a quantum leap forward. Years of smoking have taken their toll on his health. He must have taken a wrong turning in the dark.PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be taken bad► have something stolen/broken/taken etc► be taken short/be caught short
the past participle of take- He was taken aback by the new demands of the job.
- I was taken aback, but deep down I wasn't totally surprised.
- Intel was taken aback by the intensity of public anger.
- Jonadab was taken aback, not being a man given to overt affection.
- She was taken aback to realise just how far her reservations about seeing him had disappeared.
- The authorities were taken aback, and took the unprecedented step of cordoning off the painting.
- The man spun round so swiftly that George was taken aback and tripped, falling on to the soft mud.