Take for granted

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Take for granted means to undervalue or assume something will always be available; in reflective poetry, it warns against complacency, neglect, and the loss of appreciation for people, nature, or blessings.

Detailed Definition
Take for granted means to assume something will always be available, true, or dependable, often without proper gratitude or attention. In poetry, the idiom is useful for love, health, home, nature, peace, language, family, or ordinary beauty. It often appears after loss, when what seemed permanent is recognised as fragile. A poet may use it to awaken attention, showing how habit dulls wonder. The phrase is valuable for exploring gratitude, neglect, and the belated wisdom that comes when certainty disappears.
Example
Example in poetry:
A reflective poem might warn not to take sunrise for granted after a night of fear; In a love lyric, the speaker regrets taking kindness for granted; The phrase means to fail to appreciate something because it seems always available; A poet can use it for gratitude and loss.
Additional Notes
Take for granted means undervalue something because it is familiar, reliable, or constantly present. In poetry, it is deeply useful for love, health, nature, labour, parents, domestic care, freedom, and peace. The phrase exposes the blindness created by habit. Students should ask what becomes visible only when threatened or lost. It pairs well with ordinary mornings, hands at work, running water, old trees, and belated gratitude.
Also Known As
assume
Skip to main content