take time

phrase

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
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.
The event comes just after Labor Day, as the campaign season kicks off in earnest, requiring candidates to take time away from talking to voters less than two months before Election Day. Joey Garrison, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 The Niners will leave Wednesday night in California, arrive in Melbourne on Friday morning and then take time to adjust to the new time zone. ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026 Any attempt to fix a break from rock falls or flash floods is precarious and costly and can take time, so fixing the latest damage will be complicated. Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Follow Up Without Overcommunicating Investigations can take time. William Phillips, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 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 7 Sep. 2026.

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