take on

Verb

• contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle
  • Princeton plays Yale this weekend
    
  • Charlie likes to play Mary
    

• admit into a group or community
  • accept students for graduate study
    
  • We'll have to vote on whether or not to admit a new member
    

• accept as a challenge
  • I'll tackle this difficult task
    

• take on titles, offices, duties, responsibilities
  • When will the new President assume office?
    

• take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect
  • His voice took on a sad tone
    
  • The story took a new turn
    
  • he adopted an air of superiority
    
  • She assumed strange manners
    
  • The gods assume human or animal form in these fables
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  meet , encounter , play , accept , admit , take , undertake , tackle , assume , adopt , take over , acquire