An explanation of the different meanings of the English phrasal verb 'take in' from a native speaker, with lots of example sentences
Hello and welcome to my website for English learners all about phrasal verbs where I explain their different meanings to help you understand, learn and use them.
In this post, I will be looking at the English phrasal verb 'take in' and explaining 9 different ways to use it. 9 meanings may seem like a lot but it is possible that you know some of them already. For each one, I will give you lots of example sentences in context to show you how it is used. So, without further ado, let's make a start and dive into the different meanings of 'take in'....
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TAKE IN: KEY INFORMATION
Usage | Common |
Number of meanings | 9 |
Past tense forms | Took in / Taken in |
Separable? | Yes |
THE BASICS
Before we get into the different meanings of the phrasal verb 'take in', let's first take a look at the words 'take' and 'in' and what they mean on their own as this may help us to decipher some of its more idiomatic and figurative phrasal verb meanings.
Our base verb in this construction is the super common verb 'to take', which like the majority of the most frequently used verbs in English, is irregular. 'To take' is highly versatile, with many different meanings, which include removing something from a place with your hand, stealing, describing the duration of something and accepting something. I don't have enough time or space to go into all of these in detail but there are plenty of wonderful resources and dictionaries online where you can find this information 😊
Take a piece of paper and pass the rest to your neighbour.
Somebody took my car last night whilst I was at home.
A flight from London to New York takes approximately 8 hours.
I've decided to take the job at the bank.
Next, we have the prepositional particle 'in', which I do not need to introduce to you either. When used in phrasal verb constructions, 'in' often adds the idea of a movement towards an interior space (go in, fall in). Additionally, it can also be used to add the concepts of inclusion (join in), and absorption (take in) amongst others.
So, now that we have covered the basics, let's take a look at the different meanings of the phrasal verb 'take in'....
MEANING 1: To deceive someone
CEFR Language Level | B2 - Upper intermediate |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To deceive, to trick, to fool, to cheat, to con, to dupe, to swindle |
Separable? | Yes |
As you many have noticed if you have been following my posts regularly, there is very often one phrasal verb meaning that is a bit negative or unpleasant. Normally, I put these meanings towards the end of the post but in a break with tradition, in this post we are looking at the horrible one first, which is 'to deceive someone'.
Firstly, if you are not familiar with the verb 'to deceive', it means to lie to someone or make them believe something that is not true. This is often done in a selfish or malicious way in order to gain something from the person being deceived. Common synonyms of this that you may know are 'to fool' or 'to trick', however 'deceive' is a bit more negative.
We have now established that this first meaning of 'take in' is to make people believe something that is not true and the next thing that you should know is that it is most commonly used in the passive sense with the following construction....
to be / get taken in by someone
This is because this application of 'take in' is mainly used to talk about the victims of the deceitful behaviour who believed what they were being told, i.e. the people who were deceived by someone dishonest.
For example, you may be taken in by a person who claims to be a friend but who only wants something from you and has no interest in friendship. Alternatively, your grandmother may get taken in by a person pretending to call her from her bank in order to get her personal details and steal her money.
In addition to other people, it is possible for people to be taken in by websites, hoaxes, phone calls and letters - essentially anything that can make a person seem careless or stupid. The sad reality is that people there are many different ways in which a person can be taken in.
Don't be taken in by his charming smile—he's not as honest as he seems!
Julie and I were taken in by the elaborate hoax until we learned the truth.
Alex and Laura got taken in by the false promises of the investment scheme.
I was almost taken in, but luckily I checked the facts before making a decision.
It is possible to use this in the active sense too, but much less common to do so and often this may sound a bit unnatural as speakers' natural inclination tends to be for the passive form here.
I can't believe he took me in with that fake story about winning the lottery.
The innocent-looking salesman took them in, selling them a useless product.
The online advertisement took her in, making her believe it was a legitimate offer.
In both active and passive voice variations of this application, it is common to add the word 'completely' to highlight or stress the fact that the person believed the deception 100%.
Sandy was completely taken in by the scam and sadly she lost all her savings
We were completely taken in by his elaborate disguise and never suspected a thing.
He was so persuasive that even the experts were completely taken in by his fake credentials.
MEANING 2: To let someone live with you
CEFR Language Level | B2 - Upper intermediate |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To accommodate, to put up |
Separable? | Yes |
Let's now move on to a much nicer and more positive meaning for our second application of 'take in', which is 'to let someone live with you'.
Vocabulary commonly used with this application....
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In contrast to the previous usage that we've just covered, this one is specifically for the kind, generous and charitable people among us who provide somewhere to live or sleep for those people who are less fortunate.
Typically, this application is used in reference to people who are homeless or who are experiencing difficulties in their life and need somewhere to live. If you take them in, you give them a bed, shelter and possibly even look after them if required to do so.
'Take in' is most frequently used for giving people a place to sleep on a temporary basis but it is also possible when referring to giving someone a permanent home. It is not just limited to people and it also quite possible to take in a cat, a dog or any other animal. For this, I would only use it when you take pity on an animal and give it a home as it is stray or has no owners; I wouldn't use it if you are adopting a puppy from a breeder etc.
After the hurricane, they took in a family who had lost their home.
Sally decided to take in a stray dog that she had seen wandering the streets.
When his parents passed away, Ben's aunt took him in and raised him.
I owe Anne and Alan a lot; they were kind enough to take me in when I had nowhere else to go.
The elderly couple often takes in exchange students during the summer.
He was homeless for months until a kind stranger took him in and helped him get back on his feet.
We couldn't leave the kitten outside in the cold, so we took it in for the night.
During the war, many families took in refugees who had fled their countries.
MEANING 3: To arrest someone
CEFR Language Level | B2 - Upper intermediate |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | British English |
Potential synonyms | To arrest, to apprehend |
Separable? | Yes |
Our third meaning of 'take in' brings us back to the world of criminals and unpleasant people as it means 'to arrest someone' and is specifically used in the context of the police, law enforcement and criminals.
This usage is more or less a literal meaning of the combination of the two words 'take' and 'in' as it describes the action of the police taking the suspected criminal in to the police station, where he or she will be interrogated and possibly charged for a crime if found guilty.
Most of the time, there is enough context to be able to omit the words 'to the police station' when using this application.
You should note that this usage is primarily a British English one and American speakers would be more likely to use the phrasal verb 'bring in' here instead.
The police took the suspected criminal in for questioning after the robbery.
Rob and Callum were taken in by the authorities after being caught trespassing.
The murder suspect was taken in without incident and is now in custody.
The police officers took in several protesters for disturbing the peace.
Adam was taken in on suspicion of fraud and is awaiting trial.
They had no choice but to take him in after finding evidence of the crime at his house.
MEANING 4: To understand or process something
CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Common |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To understand, to absorb, to notice, to grasp, to sink in |
Separable? | Yes |
The fourth meaning of 'take in' is 'to understand or absorb something' and this one is all about what enters our brains via our senses.
Nouns that are commonly used with this application....
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To clarify, for this one we are concerned with the idea of allowing something to enter into our brains in the form of information. This may be something that we see, hear or read.
If you take some information in, you let it pass into your brain and be processed, with the ultimate goal of clearly understanding it. This application is often used for schoolchildren and students as it is the objective of a teacher or lecturer that his or her students take in everything that is being taught. In the same way, it is my aim that all of you reading this are able to take in the information about this phrasal verb that I am giving you here 😊
Moreover, we can also go one step further and use it in situations when you process some information that you have learned and what the consequences of it will be. In this sense, it can essentially be a lightbulb moment or a moment of realisation.
Helen needed some time alone to take in everything that had happened that day.
I had to read the science article twice to fully take in the details.
It is very important to take in constructive criticism and use it to improve yourself.
Tim paused for a moment to take in what Miranda had just said.
The students listened carefully, trying to take in every word of the professor's explanation.
Of course, there are times when we are not able to understand things because we are too tired to learn, we aren't interested in the subject or it is simply too difficult. In these situations, we can also use 'take in' in the negative sense to say that we were not able to process, understand or absorb the information.
I tried so hard to listen during the class but I just couldn't take most of it in.
Lisa struggled to take in the news of her promotion, feeling overwhelmed with emotion.
During the lecture, Neil found it difficult to take in all the complex concepts.
It was a lot of information to take in at once, so I had to review my notes later.
As I mentioned earlier, we can also use 'take in' to talk about things that we see with our eyes or that we notice. This is often in situations when we have to look at something for a period of time in order to fully understand what is happening or to see all of the small details of something, for example if you discover a crime scene or if you admire a painting in an art gallery. The 'taking in' action here refers to the absorption of all of the details and information into your brain, a bit like a sponge.
The breathtaking view from the mountaintop was almost too much to take in.
Sylvia stood staring at the painting in the art gallery, taking in every single detail.
When I walked into the classroom, it took me a few seconds to fully take in what I was seeing.
Take a minute to look around and fully take in your surroundings.
MEANING 5: To absorb something
CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To absorb, to take up |
Separable? | Yes |
In the previous section, we looked at how we can take in information to our brains that we can use, which is fundamentally the action of absorbing something, which coincidentally is the next meaning of 'take in' that we will look at.
Nouns commonly used with this application....
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As you can see from the list above, this meaning is specifically used in reference to substances and materials that are required by living organisms to fulfil a job and enable them to survive. The action of 'taking in' in this sense can be done in different ways, such as breathing, eating, drinking and digestion.
Plants take in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis in order to produce oxygen.
Our bodies take in nutrients from the food we eat, keeping us healthy.
Fish take in oxygen through their gills while swimming in water.
Additionally, it can also be heard in reference to non-living things that absorb water or liquid, like sponges and clothing material, however this is less common since a phrasal verb like 'soak up' may be preferred here instead.
The sponge quickly took in all the spilled water on the table.
The fabric of the shirt takes in sweat, keeping you dry during exercise.
The soil wasn't able to take in any more rain, leading to flooding.
MEANING 6: To include
CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To include, to encompass, to cover |
Separable? | No |
Let's move on to the sixth usage of 'take in' now, which simply means 'to include'.
When used in this sense, 'take in' is interchangeable with both 'to include' and 'to cover' when we we want to specify different things that are part of a whole. Common situations and scenarios in which you may come across this usage of 'take in' include organised tours for tourists, data sources for statistics and studies and subjects that are included in books or educational talks and lectures.
Bear in mind, however, that this is much less commonly used than both 'to include' and 'to cover' and may often not be a native speaker's first choice to use, so it may come across as unnatural. It is nevertheless good to have it in your active vocabulary to give some variety to your English, which can be particularly handy for exams and language level tests.
The Paris tour takes in several famous landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.
Her responsibilities at work take in managing budgets, leading meetings, and training new employees.
The hiking trail takes in some of the most scenic views of the valley.
Our study takes in data from over 50 different countries.
We've come up with a road trip itinerary that takes in a few national parks along the way.
The English course takes in a wide range of topics, from basic grammar to advanced writing techniques.
Mark's interests take in music, photography, and traveling.
The book takes in historical events as well as personal anecdotes from the author.
MEANING 7: To go and see something for enjoyment
CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To go and see, to check out |
Separable? | No |
Our seventh meaning of 'take in' is 'to go and see something for entertainment' and for this one we are combining elements of several of the meanings that we have already covered in the post so far.
Nouns commonly used with this application....
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What do you like to do at weekends? Do you like to go and watch a movie at the cinema? Or, perhaps you like to see your favourite football team play? Maybe, if you are someone who enjoys art, you might visit a museum or an exhibition. Did you know that for all of these you can use the phrasal verb 'take in'?
Simply put, if you take in a movie or a show at the theatre, you go and watch it for pleasure. The same can be said for a music concert, an orchestral recital or even visiting a museum.
We decided to take in a movie after dinner.
While visiting New York, I took in two Broadway shows.
During our trip to Rome, we took in all of the famous museums and galleries.
He loves to take in live concerts whenever he has free time.
Becky and Laura took in an art exhibition at the local gallery over the weekend.
We had some free time, so we took in a football game at the stadium.
Although this is a wonderful usage of 'take in' to have in your active vocabulary, you should note that it is rarer in usage than 'to visit' or 'to go and see'.
MEANING 8: To receive money
CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Mainly British English |
Potential synonyms | To take, to bring in, to make, to earn, to gross |
Separable? | No |
We are now onto our eighth meaning of 'take in', so really well done if you have made it here. I hope that you have been able to take in everything that you have read so far!
This eighth meaning takes us into the world of business and finance and means 'to receive money'.
Firstly, let me clarify that this meaning is not used in reference to individual financial transactions, i.e. one single instance of money being exchanged for goods or services.
Instead, we use this application of 'take in' to refer to the money that a business or company makes from its total sales or from the total payments that it receives (revenue). This could be from the sale of a product or from sales of tickets to an event. It may also be one that you hear on the subject of movies and how much money they make from people going to see them in the cinema.
The café takes in around £500 a day from coffee and tea sales.
The charity event took in a lot of donations from generous attendees.
Abigail's clothes shop takes in most of its income during the holiday season.
Trevor started a small side business and began taking in extra cash every month.
The theatre took in record earnings after the show’s success.
The movie has been hailed as a massive success after taking in $100 million dollars at the box office.
MEANING 9: To make an item of clothing smaller
CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To make smaller, to alter, to adjust |
Separable? | Yes |
We are here at our final meaning of 'take in'. For this one, first have a think about a time when you ordered an item of clothing online to be delivered to you and when it finally arrives, you try it on and realise that it is too big! The solution for this may be have it 'taken in'. This is because the last meaning of 'take in' is 'to make an item of clothing smaller'.
Nouns commonly used with this application....
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If someone takes in an item of clothing, they alter its seams in order to make it smaller, narrower or tighter so that it is the right size for the person who will be wearing it.
You should note that as most people do not carry out the 'taking in' work themselves and must instruct a professional to do it for them, you will often hear this application being used in the passive causative sense. e.g. to get / have something taken in.
Phoebe decided to take in the dress at the waist to get a better fit.
After losing weight, Paul had to take in most of his trousers to avoid having to buy a new wardrobe.
The seamstress offered to take in the jacket sleeves since they were too loose.
If this shirt is too big, I can take it in a little for you.
The tailor suggested taking in the sides of the blouse to give it a more flattering shape.
We have now reached the end of this post and I just want to say thank you for clicking on my post and reading it. I hope that you've enjoyed it and have been able to learn something new. If you enjoyed this post, please go ahead and check out some of my other posts.
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THE END
I was taken in by his lies.😯