take an hour

USAGE SUMMARY

"take an hour" is a perfectly grammatical and common phrase, especially in informal contexts.
For example, you could say: "I'm going to take an hour to finish my homework."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Let's take an hour.

The New York Times

A Chinese restaurant might take an hour.

The New Yorker

I take an hour for lunch.

The New York Times - Magazine

It can take an hour or more.

The New York Times

The morning meeting used to take an hour.

Independent

Direct trains from the Belgian capital's airport take an hour.

Independent

What used to take an hour now takes a day".

The Guardian

Your execution may take an hour or more.

The New Yorker

"They take an hour and a half every weekend".

The New York Times

Writing a review can take an hour or a day.

The New York Times

Under normal circumstances, that trip should take an hour.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When scheduling tasks, realistically assess the time required and explicitly "take an hour" for focused work to enhance productivity.

Common error

Avoid scheduling too many activities back-to-back without accounting for transition time. Accurately estimate how long a task will "take an hour" or more, and plan your day accordingly to avoid rushing or feeling overwhelmed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take an hour" primarily functions as a verb phrase. Ludwig AI indicates its frequent use to describe the allocation of time for a specific activity or purpose, whether it's for work, travel, or leisure. Examples in Ludwig show it is often used to describe the duration of an activity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "take an hour" is a very common and grammatically correct expression used to describe the allocation or duration of time for a specific activity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is frequently found in news and media, as well as in general discussions, with a neutral register. It serves the communicative purpose of estimating or planning time and is versatile enough for various contexts. Consider related phrases like "spend an hour" or "dedicate an hour" for alternative wording, depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spend an hour

Focuses on the act of using time for something.

set aside an hour

Emphasizes the deliberate act of reserving time.

spare an hour

Indicates that the time is available or can be made available.

allocate an hour

Highlights the formal assignment of time for a specific purpose.

allow an hour

Highlights the permission or granting of time for something.

give an hour

Focuses on offering time to someone or something.

dedicate an hour

Suggests committing time to a particular activity or goal.

devote an hour

Similar to 'dedicate,' but with a stronger sense of commitment.

invest an hour

Implies that the time spent will yield a positive return or benefit.

carve out an hour

Emphasizes the effort required to find or create the time.

FAQs

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

You can use "take an hour" to describe allocating time for a specific activity, such as "I need to "take an hour" to finish this report" or "Let's "take an hour" for lunch".

What's a more formal way to say "take an hour"?

In more formal contexts, you could use phrases like "allocate an hour" or "dedicate an hour" which suggest a more planned or official use of time.

What can I say instead of "take an hour"?

You can use alternatives like "spend an hour", "devote an hour", or "set aside an hour" depending on the context.

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

Yes, "took an hour" is the past tense form of "take an hour". For example, "It "took an hour" to drive to the airport" indicates that the action of taking an hour occurred in the past.