take over

verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"take-over" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“take over” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To assume control of something, such as a business or enterprise, and sometimes by force.

Key facts for take over
PropertyValue
Headwordtake over
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
Letters9
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “take over” sits in English frequency

take over falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for take over is 9 letters long, classified as a verb. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 8 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

take over doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

No documented word history exists for this headword, so its spelling is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct English form is take over, spelled T-A-K-E- -O-V-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    To assume control of something, such as a business or enterprise, and sometimes by force.
  2. 2
    To adopt a further responsibility or duty.
  3. 3
    To relieve someone temporarily.
  4. 4
    To buy out the ownership of a business.
  5. 5
    To appropriate something without permission.
  6. 6
    To annex a territory by conquest or invasion; to conquer.
  7. 7
    To become more successful than (someone or something else).
  8. 8
    Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see take, over.

Synonyms

overtakesurpass

This word in other languages

usurpar(Español)reprendre(Français)übernehmen(Deutsch)assumir(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "take over"?
"take over" is spelled T-A-K-E- -O-V-E-R.
What does "take over" mean?
As a verb, "take over" means: To assume control of something, such as a business or enterprise, and sometimes by force.
What language does "take over" come from?
"take over" is a English word. PlainSpell's reference spans five languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German -- with definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for each.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “take over”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is T-A-K-E- -O-V-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list