take in

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈteɪkɪn/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

take in (third-person singular simple present takes in, present participle taking in, simple past took in, past participle taken in)

1. (transitive) To absorb or comprehend.

   The news is a lot to take in right now.

   I was so sleepy that I hardly took in any of the lecture.

   • 2021 May 15, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 0-1 Leicester”, in BBC Sport‎:

     At the final whistle, it was just like old times as those thousands of Leicester supporters stayed in their seats for the trophy celebration to take in scenes that will live with them forever while the Chelsea end was a scene of desolation before it became a sea of deserted red seats.

2. (transitive) To enjoy or appreciate.

   I'm just going to sit on a bench and take in the scenery.

   Just relax and take in the fresh ocean air.

3. (transitive) To allow a person or an animal to live in one's home.

   take in a stray cat

4. (transitive) To receive (goods) into one's home for the purpose of processing for a fee.

   In hard times, some women would take in washing and others dressmaking repairs.

5. (transitive) To shorten (a garment) or make it smaller.

   Antonym: let down

   Try taking the skirt in a little around the waist.

6. To attend a showing of.

   take in a show

   take in a movie

7. To deceive; to hoodwink.
   • 1909, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 3, in The Gem Collector:

     She liked and trusted everybody, which was the reason why she was so popular, and so often taken in.

8. (transitive, climbing) To tighten (a belaying rope).

   Synonym: take up

9. (obsolete) To subscribe to home delivery of.
   • 1844 January 23, cross-examination in the case of R v Daniel O'Connell, et al., reprinted in, 1844, John Flanedy, editor, A Special Report of the Proceedings in the Case of the Queen against Daniel O'Connell on an Indictment for Conspiracy and Misdemeanour, page 218 :

     May I ask what newspaper you take in? I take in no newspaper.

     Well, then, what newspapers do you read? I am glad to see any of them.

10. (nautical) To reef.
    • 1840, R[ichard] H[enry] D[ana], Jr., “CHAPTER XXXV”, in Two Years before the Mast.  (Harper’s Family Library; no. CVI), New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers , →OCLC:

      The second mate holds on to the main top-gallant sail until a heavy sea is shipped, and washes over the forecastle as though the whole ocean had come aboard; when a noise further aft shows that that sail, too, is taking in.

11. (transitive) To arrest (a person).

    Synonym: take up

    The police took in the suspect.

Derived terms

• take-in (noun)

Translations

Anagrams

• Aitken, Kantei, intake, kaiten, kentia, kinate, tankie