take on
phrasal verbtake somebody on
- (especially British English) to employ somebody
- to take on new staff
- She was taken on as a trainee.
- [no passive] to play against somebody in a game or contest; to fight against somebody
- to take somebody on at tennis
- The rebels took on the entire Roman army.
take something on
- [no passive] to begin to have a particular quality, appearance, etc.
- The chameleon can take on the colours of its background.
- His voice took on a more serious tone.
take something/somebody on
- to decide to do something; to agree to be responsible for something/somebody
- I can't take on any extra work.
- We're not taking on any new clients at present.
- (of a bus, plane or ship) to allow somebody/something to enter
- The bus stopped to take on more passengers.
- The ship took on more fuel at Freetown.