Meaning
The phrasal verb “take in” has multiple meanings depending on the context:
- To absorb or understand information → He couldn’t take in all the details at once.
- To allow someone to stay in your home → They took in a stray cat.
- To make clothing smaller (alter to fit better) → She had the dress taken in at the waist.
- To visit or experience something → We took in the sights of the city.
- To deceive or trick someone → Don’t be taken in by his lies.
Grammar and Usage
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Verb type: Phrasal verb (transitive or intransitive depending on meaning).
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Structures:
- take in + noun (understand, absorb, visit, deceive).
- take + noun + in (when separable, e.g., clothing alteration: take the skirt in).
Common Phrases
- Take in the view → to enjoy looking at scenery.
- Take in a show → to go see a performance.
- Take in a child/pet → to give shelter.
- Be taken in → to be deceived.
Collocations
- take in information
- take in sights
- take in lodgers
- take in clothes
- completely taken in
Examples
- She paused to take in the beauty of the mountains.
- I couldn’t take in everything the professor said during the lecture.
- They took in an orphan during the war.
- I had to take in my trousers because they were too loose.
- We took in a movie after dinner.
- The tourists took in all the landmarks during their trip.
- He was completely taken in by the scam.
- She listened carefully, trying to take in every word.
Synonyms or Related
- understand, absorb, comprehend (for information)
- shelter, adopt, house (for giving a place)
- shrink, tighten (for clothes)
- enjoy, experience (for sightseeing)
- deceive, fool, trick (for being misled)
Antonym
- ignore, miss (for understanding/absorbing)
- turn away, reject (for sheltering someone)
- let out (for making clothes larger)
- avoid, skip (for sightseeing)
- see through (for not being deceived)