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
takes to
phrase
as in enjoys
to take pleasure in He took to figure skating at a young age. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- enjoys
- likes
- loves
- goes for
- relishes
- gets off (on)
- gets a charge out of
- gets a kick out of
- savors
- revels (in)
- fancies
- has a soft spot for
- grooves (on)
- adores
- savours
- appreciates
- admires
- delights (in)
- venerates
- rejoices (in)
- digs
- values
- reveres
- is partial to
- prizes
- prefers
- feasts (on)
- treasures
- idolizes
- cherishes
- worships
- eats (up)
- dotes (on)
- devours
- indulges (in)
- drinks (in)
- favors
- luxuriates (in)
- wallows (in)
- cottons (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hates
- dislikes
- abhors
- abominates
- detests
- loathes
- despises
- scorns
- condemns
- having a fit
- having a go at
- having a grip on
- having a soft spot for
- having against
- having at
- having done
- having done (with)
- having done with
- having it in for
- having on
- having one's eye on
- having over
- having said that
- having sex
- having to do with
- having with
- havings
- havior
- haviors
- haviour
- haviours
- Havirov
- havlagah
- havna