What does the phrasal verb “take out” mean?

What are the definitions of “take out”?

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

• 1. Borrow a library book.

  I TOOK OUT all the books I needed for my essay from the library.

• 2. Borrow money from a bank or other official lender.

  Jackie and Anil TOOK OUT a mortgage to buy a bigger flat.

• 3. Extract or remove.

  The dentist TOOK OUT all of my wisdom teeth before they started causing any problems.

• 4. Go out socially with someone, especially a date.

  He TOOK her OUT to a restaurant last Friday night.

• 5. Obtain insurance.

  I TOOK OUT some health insurance before I went backpacking around Latin America.

• 6. Kill, murder.

  The gang TOOK him OUT after he spoke to the police.

What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “take out”?

The most common meaning of the phrasal verb take out is to remove something from a place or get something from a container. For example, it can mean taking the trash outside, borrowing a book from the library, or getting rid of garbage.

What are the different verb forms of “take out”?

Root Verb	take out
Third Person Singular Present	takes out
Present Participle	taking out
Simple Past	took out
Past Participle	taken out

Example

I always take out the trash after dinner.

Example

She takes out the garbage every morning.

Example

He is taking out the recycling before the truck comes.

Example

Yesterday, they took out all the old furniture from the house.

Example

The broken window was taken out and replaced with a new one.

What kind of phrasal verb is “take out”?

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a transitive and intransitive verb?
- A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.)
- An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)

Transitive verb

“take out” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.

Example

She took out a book from the library.

Example

He took the trash out of the house.

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb?
- A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle.
- An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.

Inseparable

“take out” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.

Example

She took out a book from the library.

Example

He took the trash out of the house.

What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “take out”?

Take someone/something out of context

Misquoting or misusing someone's words to distort their original meaning, leading to misunderstanding

Example

His comments were taken out of context, unfairly portraying him as unsupportive.

Takeout food

Prepared food from a restaurant meant to be consumed off the premises, for takeaway or delivery.

Example

Let's order some takeout for dinner; I don't feel like cooking.

Take something out on someone

Expressing frustration or anger towards someone else, often unfairly.

Example

I had a bad day at work, but I shouldn't have taken it out on my family.

Good things to know

Does “take out” have an informal or formal tone?

Take out tends to have a neutral to informal tone. While it is commonly used in everyday conversations, especially in casual contexts, it may also be used in more formal settings depending on the specific context. For instance, when discussing financial matters, such as taking out a loan, it can have a more formal tone. However, in most cases, take out is considered an informal phrasal verb used in everyday speech.

What are synonyms of antonyms to the phrasal verb “take out”?

Synonyms

• remove
• extract
• withdraw
• extract
• eliminate
• eject
• retrieve
• obtain
• pull out
• procure

Antonyms

• insert
• include
• keep
• hold
• retain
• add