take to — 2 meanings

One phrase, 2 meanings. Learn them one at a time, then test yourself.

phrasal verb2 meanings

take to

1to start liking someone or something 2develop a habit

Meaning 1 · most common

to start liking someone or something

take to sth

To quickly begin to like someone or something, often unexpectedly.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

My son really took to his new teacher and looks forward to school now.

A: How's your new flatmate?
B: Surprisingly, I took to her right away. She's really easy to get along with.

Common mistake

Not: I really took to ~~with~~ the new teacher.

Say: I really took to the new teacher.

'Take to' takes the object directly — no 'with'.

More on “to start liking someone or something”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

When I started my new job, I immediately took to the friendly atmosphere and supportive colleagues.

Tell it apart

She took to him immediately.

started liking him

She took after him.

resembles him

Goes with

take to + person/thing

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Next meaning: develop a habit

Meaning 2

develop a habit

take to -ing

To begin doing something regularly or as a habit, often suddenly or unexpectedly.

How oftenNow and then

LevelC1

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

After moving to the countryside, she took to walking her dog at sunrise every day.

A: Have you noticed Tom lately?
B: Yeah, he's really taken to cooking since he moved out on his own.

Common mistake

Not: ~~He took~~ to ~~drink~~ coffee at night.

Say: He's taken to drinking coffee at night.

'Take to + -ing', not a to-infinitive.

More on “develop a habit”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

Many people take to checking their phones first thing in the morning, which can quickly become a difficult habit to break.

Tell it apart

She's taken to jogging every morning.

developed the habit

She took to jogging straight away.

started liking it — sense 1

Goes with

take to + -ing

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Test yourself: which one is it?

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to start liking someone or something develop a habit