take out — 3 meanings

One phrase, 3 meanings. Learn them one at a time, then test yourself.

phrasal verb3 meanings

take out

remove something from a place invite someone and pay for them kill or destroy

Meaning 1 · most common

remove something from a place

take sth out of sth

To remove something from inside a place, container, or position.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

Please take out your books and turn to page ten.

A: Did you take out the trash this morning?
B: Yes, I put it by the door.

Common mistake

Not: I took ~~out~~ my phone of my pocket.

Say: I took my phone out of my pocket.

'Take ... out OF' a place; with the object it's 'take it out'.

More on “remove something from a place”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

In my opinion, it's important to take out old clothes from your wardrobe regularly to keep things organized.

Tell it apart

Take the cake out of the oven.

remove it

Take her out to dinner.

invite and pay — sense

Goes with

take out + of

Practice saying this

Next meaning: invite someone and pay for them

Meaning 2

invite someone and pay for them

take sb out for sth

To invite someone to go somewhere, such as a restaurant or event, and pay for them.

How oftenCommon

LevelB2

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

He took his parents out for dinner to celebrate their anniversary.

A: Are you doing anything special for your birthday?
B: Yeah, my friends are taking me out tonight.

Common mistake

Not: I took out ~~her~~ for dinner.

Say: I took her out for dinner.

With a person, the object goes in the middle: 'take her out'.

More on “invite someone and pay for them”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

When I want to show appreciation, I like to take my friends out for coffee and a chat.

Tell it apart

He took her out for her birthday.

invited and paid

He took out the rubbish.

removed it — sense

Goes with

take out + treat

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Next meaning: kill or destroy

Meaning 3

kill or destroy

take out sth

To deliberately kill, destroy, or neutralise a person, group, or target, especially in a military, criminal, or strategic context.

How oftenRare

LevelC2

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

The special forces were ordered to take out the enemy communications centre before dawn.

A: Did you hear about the cyberattack last night?
B: Yeah, they managed to take out the entire network in minutes.

Common mistake

Not: A drone took ~~out it.~~

Say: A drone took it out.

With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'take it out'.

More on “kill or destroy”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

Some argue that drone strikes are justified if they take out high-value terrorist targets, while others question the ethical implications of such actions.

Tell it apart

They took out the bridge.

destroyed it

They took out a loan.

arranged one

Goes with

take out + target

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remove something from a place invite someone and pay for them kill or destroy