Phrase guide

take the offensive

verb · 1 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 attack instead of defending; to be bold and proactive.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Russian: перейти́ в наступле́ние (perejtí v nastuplénije) — attack instead of defending; to be bold and proactive
  • Swedish: gå på offensiven — attack instead of defending; to be bold and proactive