take a lot of time vs spend a lot of time

Both 'take a lot of time' and 'spend a lot of time' are correct phrases in English, but they are used in different contexts. 'Take a lot of time' is used when referring to the duration needed to complete a task or activity, while 'spend a lot of time' is used when talking about the amount of time used on an activity or task.

Last updated: March 15, 2024 • 2477 views

take a lot of time

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used when referring to the duration needed to complete a task or activity. It implies that the task or activity requires a significant amount of time to be completed.

Examples:

Studying for the exam will take a lot of time.
Building a house can take a lot of time and effort.
Learning a new language takes a lot of time and dedication.

Show examples from the web [+]

It may take a lot of time to move a vast number of small files or a single large data file, especially in a slow network environment.
This game force you to keep upgrading your base which is take a lot of time.
Going through the material and analyzing how difficult it is to translate can take a lot of time - especially if the project is large.
It does not take a lot of time, but then you can play flash games even without an internet connection.
It doesn't take a lot of time or energy to get set up on Facebook. However, the rewards can be substantial.
It is boring to follow up bugs, but it does not take a lot of time and has a good effect.
Foods which take a lot of time to prepare often have the most fat and carbohydrates.
Eating well doesn't take a lot of time!
The preparation of this meat may take a lot of time. You can mixed it with garlic, thyme and salt.
These friendliness and helpfulness of Cristina and her mother, who speaks German. Both take a lot of time to discuss the guests.
The investigation of data corruption problem may take a lot of time and it is not guaranteed that you may restore Outlook Express folders without the presence of good technical skills.
Prepare for your Housing Search in Madrid Despite the big amount of accommodation possibilities offered in Madrid, finding a place to stay can sometimes take a lot of time.
If you should lose your permit, it is possible to get a replacement through the immigration office (INM), although the procedure can take a lot of time.
The investigation of data corruption problem may take a lot of time and it is not guaranteed that you find the root cause of email issue.
Besides, this way of repairing rar files may take a lot of time and nobody may guarantee the success of numerous re-download attempt...
Unlike other forms of online advertising that take a lot of time to learn or you need to test over and over again, article marketing is very simple right out of the gates.
Traits:Their ships are slower and take a lot of time to mutate, but their strong side is that there are many of them, since they take-up a relatively small amount of Hangar population.
For others, cooking is also a hassle things, because cooking need a lot of tools and many processes, and they take a lot of time and energy.
Unfortunately, this may take a lot of time before you can feel the effects of this.

Alternatives:

require a lot of time
consume a lot of time
demand a lot of time
need a lot of time
entail a lot of time

spend a lot of time

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used when talking about the amount of time used on an activity or task. It indicates the time spent on an activity or task.