If you take on a job or responsibility, especially a difficult one, you accept it.
No other organisation was able or willing to take on the job. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
Don't take on more responsibilities than you can handle. [VERBPARTICLE noun (not pronoun)]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]
2. phrasal verb [no passive]
If something takes on a new appearance or quality, it develops that appearance or quality.
Believing he had only a year to live, his writing took on a feverish intensity. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]
3. phrasal verb
If a vehicle such as a bus or ship takes on passengers, goods, or fuel, it stops in order to allow them to get on or to be loaded on.
This is a brief stop to take on passengers and water. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]
4. phrasal verb
If you take someone on, you employ them to do a job.
He's spoken to a publishing firm. They're going to take him on. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
The party has been taking on staff, including temporary organisers. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
5. phrasal verb [no passive]
If you take someone on, you fight them or compete against them, especially when they are bigger or more powerful than you are.
Democrats were reluctant to take on a president whose popularity ratings were sohigh. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
I knew I couldn't take him on. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
6. phrasal verb [no passive]
If you take something on or uponyourself, you decide to do it without asking anyone for permission or approval.
Knox had taken it on himself to choose the menu. [V n P pron-refl]
He took upon himself the responsibility for protecting them. [VP pron-refl]
The President absolved his officers and took the blame upon himself. [V n P pron-refl]
More Synonyms of take on
See full dictionary entry for take
take on in British English
verb(adverb, mainly tr)
1.
to employ or hire
to take on new workmen
2.
to assume or acquire
his voice took on a plaintive note
3.
to agree to do; undertake
I'll take on that job for you
4.
to compete against, oppose, or fight
I will take him on at tennis
I'll take him on any time
5. (intransitive) informal
to exhibit great emotion, esp grief
take on in American English
1.
to acquire; assume (form, quality, etc.)
2.
to employ; hire
3.
to begin to do (a task, etc.); undertake
4.
to compete or play against; oppose
5. Informal
to show violent emotion, especially anger or sorrow
See full dictionary entry for take
Examples of 'take on' in a sentence
take on
If you think you can take on Mr Big himself you're crazier than I thought.
Loraine, Philip LAST SHOT
Then Flaxton said: `Now I know you've got the guts to take on the rich.
Howatch, Susan ULTIMATE PRIZES
On account of the distance he will eventually travel, his flight will be permitted to stop once on the eastern seaboard to take on fuel.
Mark Burnell THE RHYTHM SECTION (2002)
All related terms of 'take on'
take up on
If you take someone up on their offer or invitation , you accept it.
on the take
willing or seeking to take bribes or illicit income
take out on
If you take something out on someone, you behave in an unpleasant way towards them because you feel angry or upset , even though this is not their fault.
take on board
If you take on board an idea or a problem , you begin to accept it or understand it.
take it out on
to make (another) suffer for one's own anger , irritation , bad temper , etc.
take sth on trust
If you take something on trust after having heard or read it, you believe it completely without checking it.
take it on the chin
to bravely accept criticism and not to make a fuss about it
take it on the lam
to make a getaway; escape
take pity on someone
If you take pity on someone, you feel sorry for them and help them.
take sthing on the chin
If you say that someone took something on the chin , you mean that they accepted an unpleasant or difficult situation bravely and without making a lot of fuss about it.
take something on board
to understand or accept an idea, suggestion , or fact
have pity on
to have sympathy or show mercy for
take upon oneself
to take the responsibility for; accept as a charge