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take over

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take over (from someone)

to assume the role or job of someone. I take over for the manager next month. Liz takes over and will be in charge.

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take someone or something over

to take charge (of someone or something); to assume control of someone or something. The new manager will take the office over next week. Will you please take over your children? I can't seem to control them.

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take someone or something over

(to someone or something) to deliver someone or something to someone or something. Would you take this over to Tiffany? Would you take Tiffany over to the office? take someone or something with one to take away someone or something when one leaves. When you go, take Liz with you. Please take your dog with you.

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take something over

 

1. to assume responsibility for a task. It looks as if I'm going to have to take the project over. I will take over the project.

2. to acquire all of an asset; [for a company] to acquire another company. Carl set out to take the failing airline over. He took over the failing company with the help of a number of investment bankers.

3. to take control of something. The dictator hoped to take over the world little by little. He just might take it over.

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take over (something)

also take something over

to get control of something Believe me, your mother will take over your life if you let her! The new director made changes the minute she took over. We are ready to hand over power as soon as there is someone ready to take it over.

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take over

Assume control, management, or possession of, as in The pilot told his copilot to take over the controls, or There's a secret bid to take over our company. [Late 1800s]

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take over

v.

1. To bear something over or across something: The boat took the passengers safely over the shoals.

2. To bear something to some other place: Would you take these blankets over to our neighbor? The painters might get paint on the floor; please take over these newspapers and put them underneath the ladder.

3. To assume control of, management of, or responsibility for something: She took over the job after he left. I took the position over from my aunt after she retired. The vice president will take over as president.

4. To become dominant: Our defense took over in the second half of the basketball game.

5. To take the place of something: Computers have largely taken over typewriters. Do you think India will take China over as the country with the largest population?

See also: take