Phrase guide

take after

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To resemble (a parent or ancestor) in appearance or habit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • She takes after her grandmother with her wide eyes and quiet disposition.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To follow someone's example.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

imitate in behavior; take as a model

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Teenagers follow their friends in everything

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: follow

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: imitate, copy, simulate

4

verb

Meaning 4

be similar to a relative

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She takes after her father!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: resemble

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

33 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: дръпнал съм се на някого (drǎpnal sǎm se) — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Czech: být po (někom) — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Czech: zdědit podobu — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Dutch: aarden naar — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Finnish: muistuttaa jotakuta — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • French: tenir de — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • French: ressembler à — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • German: nachgeraten — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Hindi: ऊपर जाना (ūpar jānā) — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Hungarian: hasonlít — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Icelandic: svipa til — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Irish: téigh le — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Old Irish: aithrigidir — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Latin: exprimō — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Portuguese: parecer-se com — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Portuguese: puxar a — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Portuguese: sair a — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Romanian: semăna — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Russian: походи́ть (poxodítʹ) — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Russian: напомина́ть кому-то кого-то (napominátʹ) — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Russian: быть весь в кого-то (bytʹ vesʹ v kovo-to) — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Spanish: parecerse a — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Swedish: brås på — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Turkish: çekmek — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Ottoman Turkish: بكزهمك (beñzemek) — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Ukrainian: бу́ти схо́жим на ко́гось (búty sxóžym na kóhosʹ) — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Ukrainian: нага́дувати кого́сь (naháduvaty kohósʹ) — to resemble in appearance or habit
  • Finnish: seurata jonkun esimerkkiä — to follow someone's example
  • Finnish: noudattaa jonkun esimerkkiä — to follow someone's example
  • Russian: сле́довать (slédovatʹ) — to follow someone's example
  • Russian: подража́ть (podražátʹ) — to follow someone's example
  • Swedish: ta efter — to follow someone's example
  • Turkish: izinden yürümek — to follow someone's example