# took

/ˈtʊk/ (US) · /tˈʊk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/took
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. past tense of take

verb · CEFR A1

the past tense of 'take' — used to say you moved something, used time, or accepted something in the past.

For teachers: the simple past tense of the irregular verb 'take'.

- He took his umbrella because the sky looked very grey.
- The journey took much longer than anticipated due to the unexpected roadworks on the main motorway.

### 2. past participle (dialect)

verb · CEFR C1 · Dialect · Informal

a different way to say 'taken' in some local styles of speaking.

For teachers: the past participle of 'take' used in place of 'taken'; this is a feature of specific regional dialects and informal speech.

- He should have took the keys when he had the chance.
- In some regional varieties of English, speakers might say they have 'took' a photo rather than 'taken' one, though this is avoided in formal writing.

Usage: Used with auxiliary verbs like 'have' or 'be' in non-standard English.

## Examples

- He took his umbrella because it was raining.
- The journey to the mountain village took three hours because the roads were narrow and winding.
- The photographer took several candid shots of the crowd, capturing the raw emotion of the event before the participants realized they were being observed.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.