"Took form" is a phrase often used to describe the process of an idea or concept becoming more defined or concrete. Synonyms for "took form" might include: materialized, solidified, crystallized, coalesced, sculpted, molded, manifest, shaped, emerged, or evolved. Each of these alternatives conveys the sense of something taking on a distinct appearance, structure, or identity. Depending on the context in which they are used, these synonyms may also imply a degree of intentionality or creativity-suggesting that the process of taking form involves a level of conscious effort and perhaps even a degree of artistry.