What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

On vs Take - What's the difference?

on | take |

As nouns the difference between on and take

is that on is lamb while take is a fog or mist.

on

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) (m), from (etyl) (m), , see (m).

Adjective

(-)
  • In the state of being active, functioning or operating.
  • Performing according to schedule.
  • Are we still on for tonight?
    Is the show still on ?
  • (UK, informal) Acceptable, appropriate.
  • right on'''''; ''bang '''on'''''; ''not '''on
  • (informal) Destined, normally in the context of a challenge being accepted; involved, doomed.
  • "Five bucks says the Cavs win tonight." ?"You're on !"
    Mike just threw coffee onto Paul's lap. It's on now.
  • (baseball, informal) Having reached a base as a runner and being positioned there, awaiting further action from a subsequent batter.
  • Synonyms
    * base (not informal)

    Adverb

    (-)
  • To an operating state.
  • turn the television on
  • Along, forwards (continuing an action).
  • drive on''', rock '''on
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2012 , date=May 5 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool , work=BBC Sport , url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17878435 , page= , passage=He met Luis Suarez's cross at the far post, only for Chelsea keeper Petr Cech to show brilliant reflexes to deflect his header on to the bar. Carroll turned away to lead Liverpool's insistent protests that the ball had crossed the line but referee Phil Dowd and assistant referee Andrew Garratt waved play on , with even a succession of replays proving inconclusive.}}
  • In continuation, at length.
  • and so on .
    He rambled on''' and '''on .
  • (cricket) In, or towards the half of the field on the same side as the batsman's legs; the left side for a right-handed batsman; leg.
  • (not US) Later.
  • Ten years on nothing had changed in the village.
    Antonyms
    * off * (to an operating state) off * (later) after, afterward/afterwards, later, subsequently, thence

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • Positioned at the upper surface of, touching from above.
  • * Longfellow
  • I stood on the bridge at midnight.
  • At or near; adjacent to.
  • Soon we'll pass a statue on the left.
    The fleet is on the American coast.
  • Covering.
  • At the date of.
  • Some time during the day of.
  • Dealing with the subject of, about, or concerning something.
  • Touching; hanging from.
  • (informal) In the possession of.
  • Because of, or due to.
  • Immediately after.
  • Paid for by.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=Mr. Cooke at once began a tirade against the residents of Asquith for permitting a sandy and generally disgraceful condition of the roads. So roundly did he vituperate the inn management in particular, and with such a loud flow of words, that I trembled lest he should be heard on the veranda.}}
  • Away or occupied with (e.g. a scheduled activity).
  • Denoting performance or action by contact with the surface, upper part, or outside of anything; hence, by means of; with.
  • to play on a violin or piano
    Her words made a lasting impression on my mind.
  • (senseid) Regularly taking (a drug).
  • (senseid) Under the influence of (a drug).
  • (mathematics) Having identical domain and codomain.
  • a function on V
  • (mathematics) Having V^n as domain and V'' as codomain, for some set ''V'' and integer ''n .
  • an operator on V
  • (mathematics) Generated by.
  • Supported by (the specified part of itself).
  • At a given time after the start of something; .
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=September 24, author=Aled Williams, work=BBC Sport
  • , title=[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/14957961.stm Chelsea 4-1 Swansea] , passage=The Spain striker had given Chelsea the lead on 29 minutes but was shown a straight red card 10 minutes later for a rash challenge on Mark Gower.}}
  • In addition to; besides; indicating multiplication or succession in a series.
  • heaps on heaps of food
    mischief on''' mischief; loss '''on loss
    (Shakespeare)
  • (obsolete) of
  • * Shakespeare
  • Be not jealous on me.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Or have we eaten on the insane root / That takes the reason prisoner?
  • Indicating dependence or reliance; with confidence in.
  • I depended on them for assistance.
    He will promise on certain conditions.
    Do you ever bet on horses?
  • Toward; for; indicating the object of an emotion.
  • Have pity or compassion on him.
  • (obsolete) At the peril of, or for the safety of.
  • * Dryden
  • Hence, on thy life.
  • In the service of; connected with; of the number of.
  • He is on''' a newspaper; I am '''on the committee.
  • By virtue of; with the pledge of.
  • He affirmed or promised on''' his word, or '''on his honour.
  • To the account of; denoting imprecation or invocation, or coming to, falling, or resting upon.
  • On us be all the blame.
    A curse on him!
  • * Bible, Matthew xxvii. 25
  • His blood be on' us and ' on our children.
    Derived terms
    * depend on * on-campus * put on airs *

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (Singapore) To switch on.
  • Can you on the light?
    Synonyms
    *

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    * (l)

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • Without.
  • Usage notes
    * Usually followed by a perfect participle, as being'', ''having , etc.

    Statistics

    *

    take

    English

    Verb

  • To get or put something into one's or someone's possession or control.
  • #To grasp with the hands.
  • #To pick up and move to oneself.
  • #:
  • #*{{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=19 citation , passage=Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.}}
  • #To carry or move, especially to a particular destination.
  • #:
  • #*
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=2 , passage=Here was my chance. I took the old man aside, and two or three glasses of Old Crow launched him into reminiscence.}}
  • #To lead; to conduct.
  • #:
  • #*2002 ,
  • #*:They're taking the Hobbits to Isengard!
  • #To choose.
  • #:
  • #*(Bible), 1 (w) xiv 42
  • #*:Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken .
  • #To accept.
  • #:
  • #*{{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-10, volume=408, issue=8848, magazine=(The Economist), author=Schumpeter
  • , title= Cronies and capitols , passage=Policing the relationship between government and business in a free society is difficult. Businesspeople have every right to lobby governments, and civil servants to take jobs in the private sector.}}
  • #To receive (a newspaper, magazine, etc.) regularly, as by paying the subscription.
  • #:
  • #(lb) To gain a position by force.
  • #:
  • #To ingest medicine, drugs, etc.
  • #:
  • #*
  • #*:To such men as Mr. Hellyer, who every night take much strong drink, and on no occasion whatever take any exercise, sixty is the grand climacteric. He was, a year ago, just fifty-nine. Alas! he has not even reached his grand climacteric. Already he is gone. He was cut off by pneumonia, or apoplexy, last Christmas.
  • #To capture using a photographic camera.
  • #:
  • #To observe; to gather information on.
  • #:
  • #(lb) To form a likeness of; to copy; to depict.
  • #:
  • #*(John Dryden) (1631-1700)
  • #*:Beauty alone could beauty take so right.
  • #(lb) To deliver, give (something); to entrust.
  • #*:
  • #*:for thy loue I haue lefte my countrey / And sythe ye shalle departe oute of this world / leue me somme token of yours that I may thynke on you / Ioseph said that wille I doo ful gladly / Now brynge me your sheld that I toke yow whanne ye went in to bataille ageynst kyng Tolleme
  • #*1526 , (William Tyndale), trans. Bible , (w) XXIII:
  • #*:Jesus perceaved there wylynes, and sayde: Why tempte ye me ye ypocrytes? lett me se the tribute money. And they toke hym a peny.
  • (lb) To have or change a state of mind or body.
  • #(lb) To endure or cope with.
  • #:
  • # To assume or interpret to be.
  • #:
  • #*, chapter=22
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Not unnaturally, “Auntie” took this communication in bad part. Thus outraged, she showed herself to be a bold as well as a furious virago.}}
  • #(lb) To become.
  • #:
  • #(lb) To enroll (in a class, or a course of study).
  • #:
  • #(lb) To participate in, undergo, or experience.
  • #:
  • #(lb) To habituate to or gain competency at a task.
  • #:
  • #(lb) To perform or undertake, for example, a task.
  • #:
  • #*
  • #*:To such men as Mr. Hellyer, who every night take much strong drink, and on no occasion whatever take any exercise, sixty is the grand climacteric. He was, a year ago, just fifty-nine. Alas! he has not even reached his grand climacteric. Already he is gone. He was cut off by pneumonia, or apoplexy, last Christmas.
  • #*
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=No matter how early I came down, I would find him on the veranda, smoking cigarettes, or
  • #(lb) To experience or feel, for example, offence.
  • #:
  • #*, chapter=1
  • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients, chapter=1 , passage=Thinks I to myself, “Sol, you're run off your course again. This is a rich man's summer ‘cottage’ and if you don't look out there's likely to be some nice, lively dog taking an interest in your underpinning.”}}
  • #*{{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=20 citation , passage=The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen.
  • #(lb) To go.
  • #*2007 , Edwin Mullins, The Popes of Avignon , Blue Bridge, 2008, p.59:
  • #*:Nicholas then took himself to Avignon where in August 1330 he formally renounced his claim to the papacy.
  • (lb) To require or limit.
  • #(lb) To support or carry without failing or breaking.
  • #:
  • #(lb) To need, require.
  • #:
  • #*{{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-31, volume=408, issue=8851, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Code blue , passage=Time was it took a war to close a financial exchange. Now all it needs is a glitch in technology. On August 26th trading on Eurex, the main German derivatives exchange, opened as usual; 20 minutes later it shut down for about an hour. Four days earlier the shares of every company listed on NASDAQ, an American stock exchange, ceased trading for three hours.}}
  • #(lb) To last or expend [an amount of time].
  • #:
  • To decide or to act.
  • #(lb) To not swing at a pitch.
  • #:
  • #(lb) To tighten (take up) a belaying rope. Often used imperatively.
  • #(lb) To catch the ball; especially for the wicket-keeper to catch the ball after the batsman has missed or edged it.
  • #To be the player who performs (a free kick, etc.).
  • #:
  • #Not to refuse or balk at; to undertake readily; to clear.
  • #:
  • (lb) To have sex with.
  • :
  • (lb) To fight or attempt to fight somebody. (See also take on.)
  • :
  • (lb) To stick, persist, thrive or remain.
  • :
  • *(Francis Bacon) (1561-1626)
  • *:When flame taketh and openeth, it giveth a noise.
  • (lb) To use.
  • :
  • (lb) To decide, react, or interact.
  • # To please; to gain reception; to succeed.
  • #*(Joseph Addison) (1672-1719)
  • #*:Each wit may praise it for his own dear sake, / And hint he writ it, if the thing should take .
  • #(lb) To consider as an instance or example.
  • #:
  • #To gain or secure the interest or affection of; to captivate; to engage; to interest; to charm.
  • #*(Bible), (w) vi.25:
  • #*:Neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
  • #*(William Wake) (1657-1737)
  • #*:Cleombroutus was so taken with this prospect, that he had no patience.
  • #*(Thomas Moore) (1779-1852)
  • #*:I know not why, but there was a something in those half-seen features, — a charm in the very shadow that hung over their imagined beauty, — which took me more than all the outshining loveliness of her companions.
  • #To bear without ill humour or resentment; to submit to; to tolerate; to endure.
  • #:
  • #To accept the word or offer of; to receive and accept.
  • #* (1674-1718)
  • #*:I take thee at thy word.
  • #To draw; to deduce; to derive.
  • #:
  • #*(John Tillotson) (1630-1694)
  • #*:The firm belief of a future judgment is the most forcible motive to a good life, because taken from this consideration of the most lasting happiness and misery.
  • #To accept, as something offered; to receive; not to refuse or reject; to admit.
  • #*(Bible), (w) xxxv.31:
  • #*:Ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer.
  • #*(Bible), v.10:
  • #*:Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore.
  • # To understand or interpret.
  • Usage notes

    In informal speech, especially in certain sociolects, (took) is sometimes replaced by the proscribed form (taked).

    Quotations

    * 1611 — (King James Version of the Bible), 1:1 *: Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us

    Synonyms

    * (to grasp with the hands) grab, grasp, grip * (sense, to get into one's possession) confiscate, seize * capture, conquer, seize * (to have sex with) have * get * ingest * receive * swallow

    Antonyms

    * (to accept) give * (to carry) bring * drop

    Derived terms

    * foretake * out-take * take aback * take a bath * take a bite * take a bow * take a breather * take a chance * take a chill pill * take a dive * take a dump * take a gamble * take a look * take a pew * take a picture * take a risk * take a run at * take a spill * take a spin * take a tumble * take action * take advantage * take after * take against * take along * take amiss * take apart * take around * take aside * take away * take back * take charge * take comfort * take cover * take down * take exception to * take five * take flight * take for a spin * take for granted * take form * take guard * take hold * take-home pay * take in * take it as it comes * take it away * take it easy * take it like a man * take it on the chin * take it out on * take off the table * take off * take offence * take offense * take on * take one's rest * take one's time * take oneself off * take out * take over * take part * take place * take pleasure * take pride * take someone prisoner * take round * take shape * take sides * take silk * takest * take stock * take that * take the biscuit * take the cake * take the fall * take the mick * take the mickey * take the piss * take the trouble * take through * take time * take to extremes * take to heart * take to one side * take to one's bed * take to one's heels * take to * take to the streets * take turns * take umbrage * take up for * take up with * take up * take upon * take vows * take with a pinch of salt * you can't take it with you See also'' taken''' ''and'' ' taking

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An act of taking.
  • Something that is taken; a haul.
  • A profit, reward, bribe, illegal payoff or unethical kickback.
  • He wants half of the take if he helps with the job.
    The mayor is on the take .
  • An interpretation or view; perspective.
  • What’s your take on this issue, Fred?
  • (film) An attempt to record a scene.
  • It’s a take .
    Act seven, scene three, take two.
  • (rugby) A catch.
  • (acting) A facial gesture in response to an event.
  • I did a take when I saw the new car in the driveway.
  • (cricket) A catch of the ball, especially by the wicket-keeper.
  • (printing) The quantity or copy given to a compositor at one time.
  • Derived terms

    * double take * give and take * on the take * take two * take-or-pay

    See also

    These need to be checked and put in the section for the noun or verb senses as appropriate * bytake * intake * mistake * outtake * overtake * spit take * takings, taking * uptake

    Statistics

    *