retook

The director retook the scene with the actors.

Definition

Verb (past tense of retake):
- To take again: "retook" means to take something back or again, especially after losing it or after a previous attempt.
- To recapture: In a military context, "retook" refers to seizing control of a place or position that had been lost to an enemy.
- To re-record or re-photograph: In film or photography, "retook" means to shoot a scene or picture again, often to correct a mistake.

Usage Examples

To take again:
- She retook the exam because she failed the first time. (She took the test a second time.)
- He retook the photograph after adjusting the lighting. (He captured the image again.)
To recapture:
- The army retook the fort from the invaders. (The military regained control of the fort.)
- The police retook the stolen goods from the thief. (The police recovered the stolen items.)
To re-record:
- The director retook the scene because the actor forgot his lines. (The director filmed the scene again.)

Advanced Usage

"to retake a test": to sit for an examination again, typically after failing or to improve a score.
- Students may retake the quiz if they score below 70%. (They can take the quiz once more.)
"to retake a city": to reclaim a town or city in a military campaign.
- The rebels retook the capital after weeks of fighting. (They recaptured the capital city.)

Variants and Related Words

Retake (verb, present tense): the base form of "retook."
- I plan to retake the course next semester. (I intend to take the course again.)
Retaken (past participle): used with "have" or "had" to form perfect tenses.
- She has retaken the driving test three times. (She has taken it multiple times.)
Retaking (present participle): the ongoing action of taking again.
- Retaking the photo took longer than expected. (The process of re-photographing was time-consuming.)

Synonyms

Phrasal Verbs

(None directly associated with "retook"; "retake" is not typically used in phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms