take issue
idiomatic phrase
: 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 withAnito LoShe 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
Charles TrueheartDespite 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
Robert R. HarrisExamples of take issue in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The board will reportedly require member states to contribute $1 billion to remain a permanent member of the board after three years, Bloomberg first reported last week, and at least one country has taken issue with this fee.
—Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Larsson died suddenly in 2004 and the trilogy was published posthumously, at which point the rights reverted to his blood relatives, which his partner of 32 years, Eva Gabrielsson, took issue with and took to court.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026
After a spicy week of back-and-forth where New York’s players took issue with how Jonathon Cooper talked about rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, the visitors backed up their talk.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
That same rival player took issue with that.
—Jayson Stark, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for take issue
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Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Larsson died suddenly in 2004 and the trilogy was published posthumously, at which point the rights reverted to his blood relatives, which his partner of 32 years, Eva Gabrielsson, took issue with and took to court.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026
After a spicy week of back-and-forth where New York’s players took issue with how Jonathon Cooper talked about rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, the visitors backed up their talk.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
That same rival player took issue with that.
—Jayson Stark, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for take issue
Cite this Entry
“Take issue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20issue. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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