to take upon oneself; agree to do; enter into or upon (a task, journey, etc.)
2.
to give a promise or pledge that; contract
he undertook to be their guide
3.
to promise; guarantee
4.
to make oneself responsible for; take over as a charge
verb intransitive
5. Archaic
to take on responsibility, pledge oneself, guarantee, or be surety (for)
6. US, Informal, Obsolete
to work as an undertaker (sense 2)
Word origin
ME undertaken: see under- & take
Examples of 'undertake' in a sentence
undertake
This is a scholarly text and there is no doubting the scale of the task undertaken.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Crucially, the academic staff responsible for delivering all this will not be required to undertake technical research at the university.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He's undertaken to make America great again.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The report says Britain could one day be unable to defend its own shores, let alone carry out the many security tasks it currently undertakes worldwide.
The Sun (2016)
They also undertake research on the effects of radiation.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The research undertaken in the past five years has revolutionised our understanding of the ancient monument.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The condition was not taken seriously for many years and proper research has been undertaken only recently.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Take your original job description with you and explain the extra tasks you now undertake.
The Sun (2012)
An inventory of the tasks and duties undertaken by our police would run to many pages.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Students can choose to undertake a consulting project as the final part of their course.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Students also undertake company projects to gain experience of issues facing actual businesses.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
So it is a reasonable guess that most companies will remain reluctant to undertake big new projects.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Projects you undertake should work out well.
The Sun (2016)
Projects are undertaken on a team basis and there is no rigid and inflexible formality.
Corporate Research Foundation TOP MARKETING AND MEDIA COMPANIES IN THE UK (2002)
And what is the only body capable of undertaking such a project?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
All students undertake a project as part of their course.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
For now the allotted year is over, and the last great task must be undertaken.
Travers, P L What the Bee Knows - reflections on myth, symbol and story (1989)
She threw herself into the work with her customary enthusiasm, undertaking to make more welfare reach the peasantry.
Paul Preston DOVES OF WAR: Four Women of Spain (2002)
The whole peninsula is governed by a single cabinet, when a cabinet can be found to undertake the task.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
When reform is undertaken, it makes sense to take those who have to put it into practice with you.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It will be a huge project to undertake in her memory, but one sustained by the love and support of so many people.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
A widely adopted mode is to undertake and present research in which women speak for themselves about women's realms.
Lee Harvey Critical Social Research (1990)
I undertook that and delivered it, and in doing so obviously upset some of the entrenched establishment in the college.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We say we're improving the effectiveness of the voluntary sector but we need to be able to show that the projects we undertake make a difference.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It undertook to make no changes to the staff's pay or conditions, while also seeing a reduction in funding.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
undertake
British English: undertake VERB
When you undertake a task or job, you start doing it and accept responsibility for it.
She undertook the task of monitoring the elections.
American English: undertake
Brazilian Portuguese: incumbir-se de
Chinese: 担下
European Spanish: emprender
French: entreprendre
German: übernehmen
Italian: intraprendere
Japanese: 引き受ける
Korean: 책무 등을 맡다
European Portuguese: incumbir-se de
Latin American Spanish: emprender
Chinese translation of 'undertake'
undertake
(ʌndəˈteɪk)
Word forms:ptundertook
Word forms:ppundertaken
vt
[task, job]承担(擔) (chéngdān)
to undertake to do sth (frm) 保证(證)做某事 (bǎozhèng zuò mǒushì)
1 (verb)
Definition
to agree to or commit oneself to something or to do something
She undertook the arduous task of monitoring the elections.
Synonyms
take on
embark on
set about
commence
They commenced a systematic search of the area.
try
He secretly tried to block her advancement in the Party.
begin
The US wants to begin talks immediately.
attempt
We attempted to do something like that here.
tackle
She is quite good at DIY and wants to tackle the job herself.
enter upon
endeavour to do
2 (verb)
Definition
to promise to do something
He undertook to edit the text himself.
Synonyms
agree
I'm not sure I agree with you.
promise
They promised they would deliver it on Friday.
contract
He has contracted to lease part of the collection to a museum in Japan.
guarantee
We guarantee to refund your money if you are not delighted with your purchase.
engage
pledge
I pledge that by next year we will have the problem solved.
covenant
In the deed of separation, she covenanted that she would not revoke her will.
commit yourself
take upon yourself
Additional synonyms
in the sense of attempt
Definition
to make an effort (to do or achieve something)
We attempted to do something like that here.
Synonyms
try,
seek,
aim,
struggle,
tackle,
take on,
experiment,
venture,
undertake,
essay (formal),
strive,
endeavour,
have a go at (informal),
make an effort,
make an attempt,
have a crack at,
have a shot at (informal),
try your hand at,
do your best to,
jump through hoops (informal),
have a stab at (informal),
take the bit between your teeth
in the sense of begin
Definition
to start (something)
The US wants to begin talks immediately.
Synonyms
commence,
start,
initiate,
embark on,
set about,
instigate,
inaugurate,
institute,
make a beginning,
set on foot
in the sense of commence
Definition
to begin
They commenced a systematic search of the area.
Synonyms
embark on,
start,
open,
begin,
initiate,
originate,
instigate,
inaugurate,
enter upon
Synonyms of 'undertake'
undertake
Explore 'undertake' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of contract
Definition
to make a formal agreement with (a person or company) to do or deliver (something)
He has contracted to lease part of the collection to a museum in Japan.
Synonyms
agree,
arrange,
negotiate,
engage,
pledge,
bargain,
undertake,
come to terms,
shake hands,
covenant,
make a deal,
commit yourself,
enter into an agreement
in the sense of covenant
Definition
to agree by a legal covenant
In the deed of separation, she covenanted that she would not revoke her will.
Synonyms
promise,
agree,
contract,
pledge,
bargain,
undertake,
engage
in the sense of engage
Definition
to promise to do something
Synonyms
promise,
agree,
contract,
commit,
guarantee,
bind,
pledge,
undertake,
vow,
oblige,
covenant,
vouch,
obligate,
betroth (archaic),
affiance
in the sense of guarantee
Definition
to promise or make certain
We guarantee to refund your money if you are not delighted with your purchase.
Synonyms
promise,
pledge,
undertake,
swear
in the sense of pledge
Definition
to promise solemnly
I pledge that by next year we will have the problem solved.
Synonyms
promise,
vow,
vouch,
swear,
contract,
engage,
undertake,
give your word,
give your word of honour,
give your oath
in the sense of promise
Definition
to undertake to give (something to someone)
They promised they would deliver it on Friday.
Synonyms
guarantee,
pledge,
vow,
swear,
contract,
assure,
undertake,
warrant,
plight (old-fashioned),
stipulate,
vouch,
take an oath,
give an undertaking to,
cross your heart,
give your word
in the sense of tackle
Definition
to deal with (a problem or task) in a determined way
She is quite good at DIY and wants to tackle the job herself.
Synonyms
undertake,
deal with,
attempt,
try,
begin,
essay (formal),
engage in,
embark upon,
get stuck into (informal),
turn your hand to,
have a go or stab at (informal),
take the bit between your teeth
in the sense of try
Definition
to make an effort or attempt
He secretly tried to block her advancement in the Party.