Meaning trap

take out

kill or destroy

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

phrasal verbC2rare

Don't mix these meanings

Same phrase, different job.

kill or destroy

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

take out (remove something from a place)

'take out' also has the more basic meaning 'remove something from a place'; this is the advanced sense.

View meaning map

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

The special forces were ordered to take out the enemy communications centre before dawn.crime
Some argue that drone strikes are justified if they take out high-value terrorist targets, while others question the ethical implications of such actions.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: take out + object

WrongA drone took out it.

RightA drone took it out.

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

Patterntake out + object

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff The unit was ordered to neutralise the enemy position.

Natural The unit was sent in to take out the target.

'Take out' is the blunt operational verb for destroying a target; 'neutralise' is military-formal but 'take out' is what's actually said.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

take out + target
the targetan enemy tankthe power grida sniper

Don't confuse it

Unlike the B1 sense ('remove from a place') and the B2 sense ('invite and pay for someone'), this sense is figurative and refers to eliminating a target, not physically removing or socially inviting.

take out (remove something from a place) — 'take out' also has the more basic meaning 'remove something from a place'; this is the advanced sense.

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