Phrase guide

take root

verb · 3 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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  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To grow roots into soil.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, literally

Examples

  • Those tulip bulbs have taken root.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To become established, to take hold.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, intransitive

Examples

  • The new regulations have yet to take root.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

become settled or established and stable in one's residence or life style

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He finally settled down

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: settle, root, steady down, settle down

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: stabilize, stabilise

Narrower terms: roost

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

72 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Amharic: ሰደደ (sädädä) — to grow roots into soil
  • Catalan: arrelar — to grow roots into soil
  • Chinese Mandarin: 生根 (shēnggēn) — to grow roots into soil
  • Finnish: juurtua — to grow roots into soil
  • French: prendre racine — to grow roots into soil
  • French: raciner — to grow roots into soil
  • Galician: enraizar — to grow roots into soil
  • German: einwurzeln — to grow roots into soil
  • Greek: ριζοβολώ (rizovoló) — to grow roots into soil
  • Greek: ριζώνω (rizóno) — to grow roots into soil
  • Hungarian: gyökeret ver/ereszt/hajt — to grow roots into soil
  • Hungarian: megered — to grow roots into soil
  • Hungarian: meggyökerezik — to grow roots into soil
  • Hungarian: meggyökeresedik — to grow roots into soil
  • Ido: radikifar — to grow roots into soil
  • Italian: barbificare — to grow roots into soil
  • Japanese: 根付く (nezuku) — to grow roots into soil
  • Korean: 뿌리박다 (ppuribakda) — to grow roots into soil
  • Latin: rādīcō — to grow roots into soil
  • Polish: zakorzeniać się — to grow roots into soil
  • Polish: zakorzenić się — to grow roots into soil
  • Portuguese: enraizar — to grow roots into soil
  • Portuguese: deitar raízes — to grow roots into soil
  • Portuguese: fixar raízes — to grow roots into soil
  • Portuguese: pegar — to grow roots into soil
  • Romanian: înrădăcina — to grow roots into soil
  • Russian: принима́ться (prinimátʹsja) — to grow roots into soil
  • Russian: приня́ться (prinjátʹsja) — to grow roots into soil
  • Russian: пуска́ть ко́рни (puskátʹ kórni) — to grow roots into soil
  • Russian: пусти́ть ко́рни (pustítʹ kórni) — to grow roots into soil
  • Spanish: radicar — to grow roots into soil
  • Spanish: echar raíces — to grow roots into soil
  • Spanish: arraigar — to grow roots into soil
  • Swedish: slå rot — to grow roots into soil
  • Tamil: வேரூன்று (vērūṉṟu) — to grow roots into soil
  • Tamil: வேர்விழு (vērviḻu) — to grow roots into soil
  • Tamil: வேர்விடு (vērviṭu) — to grow roots into soil
  • Tamil: வேரோடு (vērōṭu) — to grow roots into soil
  • Turkish: köklenmek — to grow roots into soil
  • Turkish: kök salmak — to grow roots into soil
  • Uyghur: يىلتىزلىماق (yiltizlimaq) — to grow roots into soil
  • Uyghur: يىلتىز تارتماق (yiltiz tartmaq) — to grow roots into soil
  • Vietnamese: mọc rễ — to grow roots into soil
  • Volapük: vulikön — to grow roots into soil
  • Catalan: arrelar — to become established, to take hold
  • Chinese Mandarin: 生根 (shēnggēn) — to become established, to take hold
  • Finnish: vakiintua — to become established, to take hold
  • French: s'enraciner — to become established, to take hold
  • Galician: arraigar — to become established, to take hold
  • German: Wurzeln schlagen — to become established, to take hold
  • Greek: ριζοβολώ (rizovoló) — to become established, to take hold
  • Hungarian: gyökeret ver — to become established, to take hold
  • Hungarian: meggyökerezik — to become established, to take hold
  • Hungarian: meggyökeresedik — to become established, to take hold
  • Hungarian: megszilárdul — to become established, to take hold
  • Hungarian: rögzül — to become established, to take hold
  • Hungarian: rögződik — to become established, to take hold
  • Ido: radikifar — to become established, to take hold
  • Japanese: 根付く (nezuku) — to become established, to take hold
  • Māori: rarau — to become established, to take hold
  • Polish: zakorzeniać się — to become established, to take hold
  • Polish: zakorzenić się — to become established, to take hold
  • Portuguese: criar raízes — to become established, to take hold
  • Portuguese: radicar — to become established, to take hold
  • Russian: укореня́ться (ukorenjátʹsja) — to become established, to take hold
  • Russian: укорени́ться (ukorenítʹsja) — to become established, to take hold
  • Serbo-Croatian: укорије́нити — to become established, to take hold
  • Serbo-Croatian: ukorijéniti — to become established, to take hold
  • Spanish: radicar — to become established, to take hold
  • Swedish: slå rot — to become established, to take hold
  • Tamil: வேரூன்று (vērūṉṟu) — to become established, to take hold
  • Turkish: kök salmak — to become established, to take hold