Took: meaning, definitions and examples

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took

 

[ tʊk ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

past action

"Took" is the past tense of the verb "take." It refers to the action of having received, acquired, or removed something. This word can be used in various contexts to indicate that an action was completed in the past. For example, one can take a photograph, take a train, or take advice, and when using "took," it reflects that these actions have already been performed. The versatility of the verb allows it to encompass a wide range of meanings depending on the object it is combined with.

Synonyms

acquired, captured, received

Examples of usage

  • She took the bus to work.
  • He took the wrong turn on his way home.
  • They took a lot of photos during their vacation.
  • I took your advice and applied for the job.

Translations

Translations of the word "took" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pegou

🇮🇳 लिया

🇩🇪 nahm

🇮🇩 mengambil

🇺🇦 взяв

🇵🇱 wziął

🇯🇵 取った

🇫🇷 pris

🇪🇸 tomó

🇹🇷 aldı

🇰🇷 가졌다

🇸🇦 أخذ

🇨🇿 vzala

🇸🇰 vzal

🇨🇳 拿了

🇸🇮 vzel

🇮🇸 tók

🇰🇿 алды

🇬🇪 მოიტანა

🇦🇿 aldı

🇲🇽 tomó

Etymology

The word 'took' is derived from the Old English verb 'tacan', which means 'to take, seize, capture, or receive'. Its roots can be traced back to Proto-Germanic *tekaną, indicating a long history of usage within the Germanic language family. Over the centuries, as English evolved, 'tacan' transformed in form and pronunciation, eventually leading to the Middle English form 'taken', and finally to 'take', with 'took' as its simple past tense. The evolution of 'took' reflects broader changes in the English language as it absorbed influences from other languages and underwent phonetic changes. The verb 'take' has maintained a core meaning related to obtaining or removing something throughout its history, exemplifying its essential role in communication.

Word Frequency Rank

With position #271, this word is vital for basic English fluency. It appears very frequently in everyday language and should be among the first words you learn and actively use.