take on

assume, accept

Synonyms: acquire, add, address oneself to, adopt, agree to do, annex, append, attempt, become, begin, come to have, commence, develop, embrace, employ, endeavor, engage, enlist, enroll, espouse, handle, have a go at, hire, launch, put on, retain, set about, tackle, take in hand, take up, take upon oneself, try, turn, undertake, venture

Antonyms: refuse, reject

compete

Synonyms: attack, battle, contend, contest, encounter, engage, face, fight, match, meet, oppose, pit, vie

challenge, oppose

Synonyms: brave, buck, call out, confront, dare, defy, denounce, dispute, face off, go eyeball to eyeball with, go one on one with, go toe to toe with, go up against, hang in, insist upon, investigate, invite competition, make a stand, object to, question, stand up to, throw down the gauntlet

Begin to have or exhibit