take exception

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ex•cep•tion /ɪkˈsɛpʃən/   n. 

1. the act of excepting or the fact of being excepted:
   [uncountable] Fill in every line in this form without exception.
2. something excepted:
   [countable] I'll make an exception in your case.

Idioms

3. Idioms take exception to, [~ + object]
   • to make an objection to:
     She took exception to one point in the contract.
   • to take offense:
     I took exception to those rude comments.

See -cep-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ex•cep•tion  (ik sep′shən), n. 

1. the act of excepting or the fact of being excepted.
2. something excepted;
   an instance or case not conforming to the general rule.
3. an adverse criticism, esp. on a particular point;
   opposition of opinion;
   objection;
   demurral:
   a statement liable to exception.
4. Law
   • Law an objection, as to a ruling of the court in the course of a trial.
   • Law a notation that an objection is preserved for purposes of appeal:
     saving an exception.
5. Idioms take exception:
   • to make an objection;
     demur:
     They took exception to several points in the contract.
   • to take offense:
     She took exception to what I said about her brother.

• Latin exceptiōn (stem of exceptiō), equivalent. to except(us) (see except¹) + -iōn- -ion
• Middle English excepcioun 1350–1400

ex•cep′tion•less, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

exception / ɪkˈsɛpʃən/ noun

1. the act of excepting or fact of being excepted; omission
2. anything excluded from or not in conformance with a general rule, principle, class, etc
3. criticism, esp when it is adverse; objection
4. (formerly) a formal objection in the course of legal proceedings
5. a clause or term in a document that restricts the usual legal effect of the document
6. take exception ⇒ (usually followed by to) to make objections (to); demur (at)
7. (often followed by at) to be offended (by); be resentful (at)