take over the role vs take on the role

Both 'take over the role' and 'take on the role' are correct English phrases. They're often used interchangeably to mean assuming a particular position or responsibility. The choice between the two phrases may depend on personal preference or the specific context in which they're used.

Explained by Miss E.
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: March 02, 2025 • 6203 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to mean assuming a position or responsibility previously held by someone else.

"take over the role"

This phrase is used when someone is assuming control or responsibility for a role that was previously held by another person.

Examples:

He will take over the role of CEO next month.
She took over the role of team captain after the previous captain resigned.

Show examples from the web [+]

Given the complexity of administrative arrangements under the RTD framework programmes, some legal entities (including those who are the main participants from a scientific point of view) do not wish to take over the role of coordinator.
Thus the decision to send the EULEX peace-keeping force to Kosovo to take over the role that until recently had been played by UNMIK is a tactical error.
The person or Member State wishing to take over the role of the participant who has withdrawn shall, within three months of informing the Commission of their intention, provide evidence to it that work to compile a complete dossier has been commissioned.
The situation of persons wishing to notify an active substance/product-type combination on the basis of this Regulation will be similar to that of persons wishing to take over the role of participant in accordance with Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 1451/2007.
On the basis of the evidence referred to in paragraph 2, the Commission shall decide whether or not to allow the interested person or Member State to take over the role of participant.
EXISTING ACTIVE SUBSTANCES THAT WERE NOTIFIED BUT IN RESPECT OF WHICH NO DOSSIER WAS SUBMITTED OR ACCEPTED AS COMPLETE AND FOR WHICH ANOTHER PRODUCER, FORMULATOR, ASSOCIATION, OTHER PERSON OR MEMBER STATE HAS INDICATED AN INTEREST TO TAKE OVER THE ROLE OF PARTICIPANT
He says that we must not take over the role of railway company marketing managers.
This is after all the second neighbouring region, even if the European Union neither can nor wants to take over the role of the United States there.
We heard the President of the Commission say that a European Union peacekeeping force will most probably take over the role of the NATO force in Skopje this week.
The European Union cannot shirk its duty, which is not to take over the role of private manufacturers in the individual Member States, but to draw all the necessary strands together.
These are not intended to take over the role of the teacher, a role that will become ever more important with the increasing amount of information made available to students.
The minimum bid rate would take over the role played by the rate applied to fixed rate tenders.
Where the Commission allows the interested person or Member State to take over the role of participant, it may decide to extend, if necessary, the relevant period for the submission of a complete dossier specified in Article 9.
Through a Committee for Risk Assessment and a Committee for Socio-economic Analysis, the Agency should take over the role of the Scientific Committees attached to the Commission in issuing scientific opinions in its field of competence.

Alternatives:

assume the role
step into the role
inherit the role
succeed to the role
assume responsibility for the role

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to mean assuming a particular position or responsibility.

"take on the role"

This phrase is used when someone is accepting or undertaking a role or responsibility.

Examples:

She will take on the role of project manager for the new initiative.
He took on the role of mentor to the new employees.

Show examples from the web [+]

The Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania agreed to take on the role of Network Coordinator for SUMP cities.
Are you ready to take on the role of novelli pirates?
You'll take on the role of Iden Versio, (played by Janina Gavankar), Commander of Imperial special forces unit Inferno Squad.
In this world of darkness, you'll take on the role of a legendary builder, awoken by the Guardian Spirit to bless the land of Alefgard with your start reconstructing this magical world to its former glory.
In the game, players take on the role of a leader from a corporation and must compete against other corporations in developing future technologies.
Like most forms of point-and-click adventure games, players take on the role of a character who must solve a variety of puzzles.
In Uplink, players take on the role of a hacker for-hire, breaking into computer systems and nabbing valuable, secret information.
Players take on the role of an American sniper dress, Jonathan North, located in northern Georgia, near the Russian border.
In this mode we will take on the role of Kirito to fight against Death Gun Bullet of Bullets in the tournament.
This game has users take on the role of either Superman or General Zodd.
24 just doesn't allow for players to take on the role of Jack Bauer.
You will take on the role of 16 year old Sean Diaz, who lives in Seattle with his younger brother Daniel and their father, Esteban.
It is the whites who intend to take on the role of the ancestors.
The women who were involved in this rebellion had valid reasons for desiring to participate, and in some instances, to take on the role of leader.
Players take on the role of Atlantic Federation's covert operative working to liberate a chain of tropical Slave Isles from the oppressive Saharan Empire, who run the African continent.
The game was inspired by Richard Adams' fantasy novel Watership Down, and the players were given the opportunity to take on the role of rabbits.
Players take on the role of the Kid, entrusted with the thankless task of restoring the world after a disastrous calamity.
In suitable mixtures, the new red-clover variety Pastor has the potential to take on the role of white clover as a grazing legume for at least three years.
When Cosimo disappears things for Pius begin to get hurt, he must try to be able to take on the role of his brother and decide if he is really ready to become a man.

Alternatives:

undertake the role
accept the role
assume the role
embrace the role
shoulder the role

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take over the role vs take on the role

"take over the role"

"take on the role"

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