took over

verb

past tense of take over
1
as in substituted
to serve as a replacement usually for a time only I'll take over for her until she gets back from her morning break

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in accepted
to take to or upon oneself took over the responsibility of caring for the animals

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in seized
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right students protesting the war took over the college's radio station

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of took over Since Arsenia took over operations, Greenwood Social Hall has evolved into a busy cultural hub. — J.m. Banks june 25, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026 The Mets posted their fourth shutout and won for the second time in five games since Andy Green took over as interim manager when Carlos Mendoza was fired last Friday. — Cbs New York Team, CBS News, 1 July 2026 The Coast Guard took over operations of the nation’s lighthouses in 1939, and by the early 1990s, most were automated. — Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 Here’s help The Tartan Army took over Miami Scottish fans are enthusiastic, rambunctious, loud and — more than anything — organized. — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026 Unlike the public comment sessions of school board meetings, which have been overwhelmingly well-attended since the Texas Education Agency took over the district in March, there was no time limit for remarks. — Samuel O’Neal 25, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2026 In 1995, Ada County took over the raft and tube rental operation after a legal dispute with the company that offered raft and food concessions, according to Statesman reporting at the time. — Carolyn Komatsoulis updated July 7, Idaho Statesman, 7 July 2026 Boston is also now 31-31 since Tracy took over as interim manager, and with Baltimore’s 5-2 loss to the Cubs, the Red Sox have moved out of last place for the first time since May 23. — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 7 July 2026 Detectives with the Lincoln Police Department and a crime scene investigator took over the investigation, with assistance from investigators from the Placer County District Attorney’s Office. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for took over
  1. substituted
  2. accepted
  3. seized
  4. stood in
  5. assumed
  6. grabbed
  7. stepped in
  8. shouldered
Verb
  • Portugal somehow held on, and Goncalo Ramos’ 94th-minute header, with Ronaldo substituted, sparked delirium after a delightful Rafael Leao cross.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • France coach Didier Deschamps bowed when his star came to the bench after he was substituted in the 85th minute.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of substituted
Verb
  • On Friday, Pope Leo formally accepted the Liberty Medal from the National Constitution Center, a non-partisan non-profit located across from Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
    — Danny Freeman, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
  • Reuters Calling on America to recommit itself to its founding principles of unity and peace at home and abroad, Pope Leo XIV accepted the Liberty Medal on Friday during a ceremony at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
    — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of accepted
Verb
  • Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who voted against the proposal in mid-June, voiced fears that the list of noncitizen voters would immediately be seized by federal immigration authorities.
    — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, Russia’s military on Saturday claimed to have seized the city of Kostiantynivka, a key defensive hub in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.
    — Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Definition of seized
Verb
  • Mary Ellen Brown, 68, stood in the back of the chapel and greeted those who walked inside, toward their usual pews, while Emily Lyons, almost 90, maneuvered her walker through the worn wooden doors.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Fans for Brazil and Scotland stood in line outside the park, hoping for a chance to get through before the game concludes.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026
Definition of stood in
Verb
  • Vahidi, who assumed the role after his predecessor Mohammad Pakpour was killed in US-Israeli strikes on the first day of the war, is rarely seen in public.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
  • The composition of the bar changed dramatically as many Loyalist lawyers departed, others were jailed and younger lawyers assumed responsibilities previously held by members of the colonial establishment.
    — Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of assumed
Verb
  • When Kennedy approached the rider and grabbed the handlebars to check whether the bike was registered, the rider refused to get off and allegedly tried to pull away.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • Maura Higgins, breakout star of The Traitors, grabbed her best tennis whites to ace the style assignment at Wimbledon 2026.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 1 July 2026
Definition of grabbed
Verb
  • Pulisic wound up for a kick on his right foot when a Belgian defender stepped in front of him.
    — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 7 July 2026
  • This is where celebrated guitar manufacturer Fender stepped in.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 7 July 2026
Definition of stepped in
Verb
  • But experts say the costs of the fertilizer shortage will be largely shouldered by farmers.
    — Joe Hernandez, NPR, 3 July 2026
  • That number, however, does not include the costs being shouldered by local, state and federal governments, with the Athletic reporting that the host cities were each spending upwards of $100 million to accommodate the tournament.
    — Brett Knight, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of shouldered

Browse Nearby Words

took out
took over
took ship
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Cite this Entry

“Took over.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/took%20over. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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