take attendance
/teɪk əˈtɛndəns/
Meaning
Take attendance means to record who is present and who is absent in a classroom, lecture, or official meeting. It is a standard, neutral phrase used by teachers, professors, and organizers at the beginning of a session.
Examples
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The professor always takes attendance at the very beginning of the lecture.
The professor always takes attendance at the very beginning of the lecture.
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Please sit down quietly while I take attendance, the teacher said.
Please sit down quietly while I take attendance, the teacher said.
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They use a digital app to take attendance in our high school now.
They use a digital app to take attendance in our high school now.
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It only takes two minutes for the tutor to take attendance.
It only takes two minutes for the tutor to take attendance.
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The club president will take attendance before the meeting officially begins.
The club president will take attendance before the meeting officially begins.
Common Mistakes
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✗ The teacher made attendance at 9 AM.
✓ The teacher took attendance at 9 AM.
The correct verb collocation is 'take' (or 'call'), never 'make'.
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✗ She checked the attendance of the students.
✓ She took attendance.
While 'checked the attendance' is grammatically correct, 'took attendance' is the far more common and idiomatic way to describe this routine action.
Related Expressions
Practice
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Our history teacher always likes to ___ before starting the lesson.
💡 check who is present
Show answer
take attendance
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Don't be late to class, or you'll miss the teacher ___.
💡 recording who is present
Show answer
taking attendance