take on

1) PHRASAL VERB If you take on a job or responsibility, especially a difficult one, you accept it.

[V P n (not pron)] No other organisation was able or willing to take on the job...

[V P n (not pron)] Don't take on more responsibilities than you can handle. [Also V n P]

2) PHRASAL VERB: no passive If something takes on a new appearance or quality, it develops that appearance or quality.

[V P n (not pron)] Believing he had only a year to live, his writing took on a feverish intensity. [Also V n P]

Syn:

assume

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.

[V P n (not pron)] This is a brief stop to take on passengers and water. [Also V n P]

4) PHRASAL VERB If you take someone on, you employ them to do a job.

[V n P] He's spoken to a publishing firm. They're going to take him on...

[V P n (not pron)] The party has been taking on staff, including temporary organisers.

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.

[V P n (not pron)] Democrats were reluctant to take on a president whose popularity ratings were historically high...

[V n P] I knew I couldn't take him on.

6) PHRASAL VERB: no passive If you take something on or upon yourself, you decide to do it without asking anyone for permission or approval.

[V it P pron-refl to-inf] Knox had taken it on himself to choose the wine...

[V P pron-refl n] He took upon himself the responsibility for protecting her...

[V n P pron-refl] The President absolved his officers and took the blame upon himself.