take to
verb
took to; taken to; taking to; takes to
transitive verb
1
: to go to or into (a place)
take to the woods/hills
Thousands of people took to the streets in protest. [=went out into the streets to protest]
He took to the airwaves [=he spoke on the radio] with his message.
2
: to begin doing (something) as a habit or regular practice
take to drink
—usually used with a following present participle take to drinking/smokingHe's recently taken to staying up late on weekends.A few of her classmates took to calling her Pipi, after Pippi Longstocking …
Calvin TomkinsRecently, he'd taken to wearing tuxedos and suits and had gotten a new car, she said. Laura Italiano and Tamar Lapin
Calvin TomkinsRecently, he'd taken to wearing tuxedos and suits and had gotten a new car, she said. Laura Italiano and Tamar Lapin3
: to adapt oneself to
They haven't taken well to the new schedule.
4
: to start to have a liking for
I took to her immediately.
He tried skiing and took to it quickly. [=he quickly learned how to ski and liked doing it]
Note: To take to something like a duck (takes) to water is to begin to do it, use it, etc., in a very quick, easy, and natural way.
She took to horseback riding like a duck to water.
Deanna takes to student life like a duck takes to water, doing all the things that we all did … Joe Anderton
see also take kindly to Joe Anderton
Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
take to
phrase
as in enjoy
to take pleasure in He took to figure skating at a young age. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- enjoy
- like
- love
- relish
- get off (on)
- go for
- savor
- have a soft spot for
- get a charge out of
- get a kick out of
- fancy
- revel (in)
- dig
- adore
- savour
- rejoice (in)
- admire
- appreciate
- delight (in)
- groove (on)
- venerate
- revere
- be partial to
- value
- prize
- treasure
- prefer
- cherish
- worship
- idolize
- drink (in)
- eat (up)
- indulge (in)
- devour
- dote (on)
- feast (on)
- favor
- cotton (to)
- luxuriate (in)
- wallow (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hate
- dislike
- detest
- loathe
- condemn
- despise
- abominate
- abhor
- scorn
- touching (upon)
- touching base
- touching base (with)
- touching base with
- touching down
- touching off
- touching on
- touching on or upon
- touching up
- touching upon
- touchinglier
- touchingliest
- touchingly
- touchingness
- touchingnesses
- touchings
- touchless
- touchline
- touchlines
- touchmark
- touchmarks
- touchous
- touchpan
- touchpiece
- touchscreen