taken
/teik/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective 1. Affected by a sudden illness or condition: Used to describe someone who has become ill, drunk, or similarly affected, often suddenly. 2. Understood or interpreted in a particular way: Used to describe how something (a word, an action, a gesture) is perceived or given meaning.
Examples of Usage
- Adjective (Affected by illness/condition):
- She was taken ill during the flight and needed medical attention.
- He was taken drunk after just two glasses of wine.
- Adjective (Understood/interpreted):
- His silence was taken as a sign of agreement.
- If the comment is taken literally, it sounds quite harsh.
- A gift in that culture can be taken as an insult.
Advanced Usage
- "to be taken aback": To be surprised or shocked, usually in a way that leaves one momentarily unable to react.
- I was completely taken aback by her sudden resignation.
- "to be taken with someone/something": To be very impressed by or attracted to someone or something.
- We were really taken with the charming little village.
Variants and Related Words
- Take (verb): The base verb from which the adjective 'taken' is derived. Its many meanings include to grasp, to accept, to require, to travel by, etc.
- Please take a seat.
- It will take three hours to get there.
- Overtaken (verb, past participle): Surpassed or overcome.
- Our sales have been overtaken by our competitors.
- Undertaken (verb, past participle): Committed to or begun (a task).
- A major study has been undertaken.
Synonyms
- Seized: (For the 'affected by illness' sense, often sudden).
- He was seized by a fit of coughing.
- Interpreted: (For the 'understood' sense).
- Her smile was interpreted as encouragement.
- Regarded: (For the 'understood' sense).
- The gesture was regarded as a peace offering.
Related Phrasal Verbs (from the base verb 'take')
- Take after: To resemble a family member.
- He really takes after his father.
- Take off: To leave the ground (aircraft); to become successful; to remove.
- The plane took off on time.
- Her career really took off last year.
- Take on: To accept a responsibility or challenge; to employ someone.
- She took on too much work.
- The company is taking on new staff.
- Take over: To assume control.
- A new manager will take over next month.
- Take up: To begin a hobby or activity; to occupy space or time.
- He has taken up gardening.
- This sofa takes up too much room.
Related Idioms
- Take it for granted: To assume something is true or will always be available without appreciating it.
- We often take our health for granted.
- Take someone's word for it: To believe what someone says without proof.
- I haven't seen it myself, but I'll take your word for it.
- Take the plunge: To finally decide to do something important or risky.
- After years of thinking about it, she took the plunge and started her own business.
Adjective
- be affected with an indisposition
- the child was taken ill
- couldn't tell when he would be taken drunk
- understood in a certain way; made sense of
- a word taken literally
- a smile taken as consent
- an open door interpreted as an invitation