Take after means to resemble an older family member, in looks, personality, or habits. Nobody is actually taking anything, and nobody is going anywhere.
What Does Take After Mean?
She takes after her mother — same laugh, same stubborn streak.
If you take after someone, usually an older relative, you share a noticeable similarity with them: the shape of your nose, your sense of humor, your terrible handwriting, your love of arguing about nothing. The resemblance can be physical or behavioral.
Pulled apart, the two words say almost nothing about this meaning. "Take" and "after" give you no real clue — this is one of those phrasal verbs you simply have to learn as a whole.
Natural Examples
He takes after his dad: tall, quiet, and terrible at remembering birthdays.
Everyone says she takes after her grandmother around the eyes.
My brother takes after our uncle more than our dad, especially the sense of humor.
Can You Separate It?
No. Take after is inseparable — the person you resemble always comes directly after it, never in the middle.
✅ She takes after her mother.
✅ She takes after her.
❌ ~~She takes her mother after.~~
❌ ~~She takes her after.~~
How to Use It
- The resemblance meaning is normally non-progressive, since it describes a standing fact rather than something happening right now: He takes after his father, not He is taking after his father.
- The object is usually an older relative: a parent, grandparent, aunt, or uncle.
- It covers more than looks — personality, habits, and talents all count: She takes after her grandmother, down to the love of gardening.
Common Mistakes
It describes resemblance, not action.
❌ He is taking after his father right now.
✅ He takes after his father. (an ongoing fact, not something happening this minute)
Don't confuse it with "look after."
❌ She takes after her little brother every afternoon.
✅ She looks after her little brother every afternoon. (meaning: cares for him)
In a Conversation
Sam: Your sister has exactly your laugh, it's uncanny.
Jordan: Everyone says that. Apparently we both take after our dad.
Sam: Does he laugh at his own jokes too?
Jordan: Constantly. So, yes.
Easy Way to Remember It
Picture family photos lined up on a wall, each one slightly echoing the one before it. Take after is that quiet echo: not something you do, just something you carry, borrowed from someone who came before you.
Similar Expressions
- look like someone: usually focuses on physical appearance. She looks like her mother, but takes after her father when it comes to temper.
- run in the family: used for a trait shared across several relatives, not just one. A love of music runs in the family.