take time
idiom
1
: to need or require time to happen or be done
You have to be patient. Things like this take time.
It may take some time for the medication to wear off.
The meeting won't take too much time.
This job is easy and will take no time at all.
2
or take the time
: to use an amount of time in order to do something important
They never took the time to get to know her.
I took some time to think about it, and my answer is still "no."
Examples of take time in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Zhang emphasized that while alternative suppliers could be found, the transition would take time and likely result in higher costs for U.S. consumers.
—
Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Read: The leisure class always wins Early episodes take time to set up the new ensemble, but the story doesn’t feel sluggish.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
There are four new greens — same contours, same grasses, etc. — but new greens take time to mature.
—Bob Spear, Charlotte Observer, 7 Apr. 2025
For that reason, travel experts advise to choose well in advance, register in time — and take time to prepare.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take time
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Read: The leisure class always wins Early episodes take time to set up the new ensemble, but the story doesn’t feel sluggish.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
There are four new greens — same contours, same grasses, etc. — but new greens take time to mature.
—Bob Spear, Charlotte Observer, 7 Apr. 2025
For that reason, travel experts advise to choose well in advance, register in time — and take time to prepare.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take time
Cite this Entry
“Take time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20time. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
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