take issue

phrase

Synonyms of take issuenext
: to adopt or express an opposed or contrary view or position : disagree
Though a barbecuing Southerner may take issue, Texas-style and Korean barbecue have much in common.—Anito Lo
—usually used with with
She took issue with the conclusions reached by the study.
Carolyn Nichols, an editor at Bantam, took issue with the notion that romance fiction is escapist.—Charles Trueheart
Despite the proliferation of all means of communications, from magazines to computers, books remain our chief medium for the full expression of ideas, and for taking issue with those of others.—Robert R. Harris

Examples of take issue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The defense took issue with the final jury, which included no black people. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 19 Aug. 2026 Critics took issue with some of the recordings, particularly those in which Kulusich appears to kiss Peter Pan on the cheek or get down on one knee to propose to him. — Alexis Mikulski Ruiz, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2026 Three homeowners filed the lawsuit against the city earlier this month, taking issue with its publication of a huge tax roll that listed nearly 1 million properties and noted that all of the properties on the list could be subject to the tax. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2026 But others take issue with her premise the exercises are unnecessary, arguing that scaling them back puts US forces –– almost 30,000 of them stationed in South Korea and over 50,000 more in nearby Japan –– in a more dangerous situation. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for take issue

Word History

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of take issue was in 1623

Rhymes for take issue

See All Rhymes for take issue

Browse Nearby Words

take in vain
take issue
take it
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Take issue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20issue. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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