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taking

TAY-king/ˈteɪkɪŋ/

Noun pluraltakings

7 meanings of taking

Practice

  1. 1
    verb
    Present participle of take. Use this form for an action happening now, or as a noun for the activity itself.

    She is taking the children to school right now.

    Taking the stairs is good exercise.

    Note
  2. 2
    nouncountable or uncountable
    The act of getting or grabbing something.

    The taking of the castle ended the long siege.

    The taking of photos is not allowed inside the museum.

    Similarcapture, seizure

    Note
  3. 3
    nounCommonwealthIrelandUKcountable or uncountableplural
    Money that a shop or business gets from selling things.

    Like the pile of money a shop adds up after a busy day.

    The shop's takings were low this week.

    She counted the takings and locked the till.

    Similarincome, receipts

    Oppositeoutgoings, expenses

    Note
  4. 4
    adjective
    Pleasing and attractive to look at or be around.

    Like a friendly face you can't help but smile back at.

    She has a taking smile that makes people feel welcome.

    The puppy had such a taking face that no one could say no.

    Similarcharming, engaging, winning, appealing, attractive

    Oppositeunappealing

    Note
  5. 5
    noununcountable
    The act of taking away someone's goods or property by force or law.

    Like having something grabbed away from you and not given back.

    The taking of their cattle left the family poor.

    Villagers feared the taking of their harvest by soldiers.

    Similarseizure, confiscation, expropriation

  6. 6
    noununcountable
    A worried, upset state, used in the phrase "in a taking."

    Like getting all worked up and jittery when you're really worried.

    She was in such a taking that her hands shook.

    Don't get into a taking over one bad grade.

    Similarstate, flap, tizzy, panic

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 7
    adjectiveobsolete
    Able to spread from one person to another, like a sickness.
    Come not near me, For I am yet too taking for your company.
    1647, John Fletcher, Philip MassingerHere, taking means contagious, able to spread illness.
    All the stor’d vengeances of heaven fall On her ingrateful top! Strike her young bones, You taking airs, with lameness!
    c. 1603, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”Here, taking means infectious, carrying disease.
    Note

taking is a form of take

take, verb: To get hold of something and have it, with or without force. Full entry

Forms
taketakes he/she/ittaking -ing formtook past tensetaken past participle
Spelling
take → taking: drop the e, add -ing

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of taking apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

This is the word "take" plus the ending "-ing".