what it takes

noun
UK: /ˌwɒt ɪt ˈteɪks/
US: /ˌwʌt ɪt ˈteɪks/

  1. The qualities or actions that are needed to achieve something.

    1. He has what it takes to win. [ ] [ ]
    2. She demonstrated that she has what it takes to succeed in a challenging environment. [ ] [ ]

  2. The necessary effort or resources needed for a particular task or goal.

    1. It takes what it takes, you know? [ ] [ ]
    2. They finally understood what it takes to create a successful business from the ground up. [ ] [ ]
what it takes idiom

  1. To have the necessary qualities or abilities for something.

    1. He has got what it takes. [ ] [ ]
    2. Do you believe that you've got what it takes to be a leader in this competitive industry? [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "what it takes" in English means: The qualities or actions that are needed to achieve something., The necessary effort or resources needed for a particular task or goal..

The phonetic transcription of "what it takes" is /ˌwɒt ɪt ˈteɪks/ in British English and /ˌwʌt ɪt ˈteɪks/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Example usage of "what it takes": "He has what it takes to win.". More examples on the page.