tomar medidas
verbCEFR B2
What does “tomar medidas” mean in English?
to take measures, to take action
to take measures, to take action (formal; tomar + medidas fixed; para + infinitive for purpose)
Example sentences
El gobierno ha anunciado que tomará medidas para reducir el impacto del alza en los precios.
The government has announced it will take steps to reduce the impact of the price rise.
Si no se toman medidas con urgencia, el deterioro de los servicios será inevitable.
If steps are not taken urgently, the deterioration of services will be inevitable.
La dirección ha tomado medidas disciplinarias contra los responsables del incidente.
Management has taken disciplinary measures against those responsible for the incident.
How to use it
Tomar medidas means 'to take measures', 'to take steps', 'to take action'. It is a high-frequency formal collocation in politics, business, and journalism. Construction: tomar medidas (+ adjectivial qualifier + para + infinitive): 'tomar medidas urgentes para frenar…', 'tomar medidas al respecto'. The plural medidas is standard; 'tomar una medida' (singular) is used for a specific measure. Common synonyms: adoptar medidas (more formal, EU register), implementar medidas (technical).
Common mistake
Tomar medidas is semi-fixed: the verb is always tomar (or adoptar in formal EU Spanish). Don't substitute *hacer medidas or *llevar medidas. The preposition for purpose is para + infinitive (not *de). Note: medidas here are 'steps/actions' not 'measurements' (esas medidas = those measurements, same word, different meaning).