take over

English

Verb

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

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see take,‎ over.

   He took the car over to the garage.

2. To assume control of something, especially by force; to usurp.
   • 1951 February, “Notes and News: Lynton & Barnstaple Remains”, in Railway Magazine, page 136:

     Pilton Yard, the Lynton & Barnstaple headquarters, has been taken over by a fur trading firm, and would-be trespassers to the old engine-shed are turned back by the pungent odour of heaps of carcases.

   • 2013 June 18, Simon Romero, “Protests Widen as Brazilians Chide Leaders”, in New York Times, retrieved 21 June 2013:

     In Rio de Janeiro, thousands protested in a gritty area far from the city’s upscale seaside districts. In other cities, demonstrators blocked roads, barged into City Council meetings or interrupted sessions of local lawmakers, clapping loudly and sometimes taking over the microphone.

   • 2022 February 23, Barry Doe, “Liverpool & Manchester Atlas is excellent value”, in RAIL, number 951, page 61:

     I was also interested to hear that he is taking over the time-honoured Rail Atlas of Great Britain & Ireland, following Stuart Baker's death in November 2020.

3. To adopt a further responsibility or duty.

   He will take over the job permanently when the accountant retires.

4. To relieve someone temporarily.
   • 2011 December 29, Keith Jackson, “Celtic 1 Rangers 0”, in Daily Record‎:

     McCoist unexpectedly ushered back a defender of his own with Kirk Broadfoot taking over from Steven Whittaker. There was, of course, another change, Kyle Bartley stepping in at centre-half to replace suspended Dorin Goian.

   My husband is taking over the accounts department during the holiday period, while the chief accountant is away.

   If you will take over driving, I'd like to get some sleep.

5. To buy out the ownership of a business.
   • 2013 June 22, “Engineers of a different kind”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 70:

     Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers. Piling debt onto companies’ balance-sheets is only a small part of what leveraged buy-outs are about, they insist. Improving the workings of the businesses they take over is just as core to their calling, if not more so. Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster.

   Acme Motors is to take Jetcar Industries over this week, if all goes as planned.

6. To appropriate something without permission.
7. To annex a territory by conquest or invasion.

   Ancient Rome took over lands throughout the known world.

8. (transitive, intransitive) To become more successful (than someone or something else).

   Buzz Lightyear has taken over Woody as the most popular children's toy.

   Tiger Woods has taken over as the top golfer.

Synonyms

• (to become more successful than): overtake; surpass

Related terms

• takeover

Translations

See also

• Not to be confused with overtake

Anagrams

• overtake