take an exit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "take an exit" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used when referring to leaving a road or highway at a designated point. Example: "As we approached the city, we needed to take an exit to reach our hotel."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

And I love how the screen shows you replicas of the actual green highway signs in front of you ("I-95 North, Right Lane Only") when it's time to change lanes or take an exit.

The New York Times

If there is any place to detach ourselves from the electronic network we are wired into, to take an exit from the information superhighway, it's the opera house and the concert hall.

The New York Times - Arts

Well, the nearest we get to a car chase comes in London, where Nate, driving a van, decides to take an exit ramp on his way to Heathrow Airport.

The New Yorker

If you take an exit off a Midwestern highway and drive through a square-gridded prairie town, you might think there's nothing much going on, nothing to see but the 7-Eleven and the high school, nothing to do but gas up, get biscuits and gravy at the diner and move on.

The New York Times - Books

In Liesl Schillinger's review of Antonya Nelson's novel "Bound" ("Prairie Fires," Oct. 3), Schillinger begins: "If you take an exit off a Midwestern highway and drive through a square-­gridded prairie town, you might think there's nothing much going on, nothing to see but the 7-Eleven and the high school, nothing to do but gas up, get biscuits and gravy at the diner and move on".

The New York Times - Books

We also saw that many people would pay $9 to take an exit option in Dana's dictator studies, but many people also would not (Dana et al. 2006).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Heal took an exit off the freeway.

The New Yorker

Had each taken an exit ramp on the highway to dominating golf, it might have happened.

The New York Times - Sports

She'd taken an exit package from the lab, learned to garden, started reading novels again.

The New Yorker

The option of taking an exit qualification was also offered to students wishing to discontinue their studies," the spokesman says.

The Guardian

For pedestrians, the bridge is accessible only from the Nevada side, by taking an exit off Route 93 that puts motorists on the old road to the dam.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When giving directions, be specific about the exit number or landmark to ensure clarity. For example, "To reach the museum, "take an exit" at exit 22B."

Common error

Avoid using "take an exit" when you mean "make an exit" in a non-driving context. "Take an exit" specifically refers to leaving a road, while "make an exit" means to leave a place or situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take an exit" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of leaving a highway or main road via a designated off-ramp. As per Ludwig AI, it's a common and correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take an exit" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to describe the action of leaving a road or highway. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While versatile, it is most frequently encountered in news and media, wiki and science contexts. When using the phrase, it's important to be specific about which exit to take. Alternatives include "exit the highway" or "leave the motorway", though precision may be lost in translation if these alternatives don't specify a single place where to exit. Avoid using it interchangeably with "make an exit", which has a different, non-driving-related meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exit the highway

Replaces the verb "take" with "exit", focusing on the action of leaving the highway.

leave the motorway

Uses "leave" as a synonym for "take" and "motorway" as a synonym for "highway/expressway".

get off the highway

Emphasizes the action of departing from the highway.

take the off-ramp

Focuses on the specific ramp used for exiting.

exit at the designated point

Highlights the action of exiting at a specific location.

pull off the road

Suggests stopping on the side of the road instead of using an exit.

detour from the main road

Implies a planned deviation from the primary route.

veer off the expressway

Suggests a change in direction away from the expressway.

peel off the highway

Uses a more descriptive verb to indicate leaving the highway.

diverge from the route

Implies a more significant deviation from the original path.

FAQs

How can I use "take an exit" in a sentence?

You can use "take an exit" when referring to leaving a highway or road at a designated point. For example, "You need to "take an exit" at the next interchange to reach the airport."

What's another way to say "take an exit"?

Alternatives to "take an exit" include "exit the highway", "get off the highway", or "leave the motorway".

Is it correct to say "took an exit" instead of "take an exit"?

Yes, "took an exit" is the past tense form of the phrase and is grammatically correct when describing a past action. For example, "He "took an exit" to avoid the traffic."

What is the difference between "take an exit" and "miss an exit"?

"Take an exit" means to intentionally leave a road at a specific point, while "miss an exit" means to unintentionally pass by an exit without leaving the road. Missing an exit often leads to needing to "take an exit" further down the road to correct the mistake.