phrasal verb · neutral

take over

UK/teɪk ˈəʊvə/US/teɪk ˈoʊvər/TAKE O·ver

speakingtask2

to assume control of something (a business, duties, etc.)

Examples

When the director left, his deputy took over the company.

I'll take over the project while you're on maternity leave.

The multinational firm took over a local competitor last year.

Band 8 sentence

After the merger, the parent company took over operations to streamline processes.

Collocations

  • take over + a company/project/role
  • be taken over by + somebody

Word family

take over phrasal verb (base)takes over phrasal verb (3rd sg)took over phrasal verb (past)taking over phrasal verb (gerund)

Common mistakes

He will take over smoking next month.He will take up smoking next month.

They took the company over last year.They took over the company last year.

Say it for a higher band

5seize6assume control7+take over

Synonyms

assume control

seize control

Easily confused

assume

She will assume responsibility for the new project next week.

Related words

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In take …

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