undertake

verb

un·​der·​take ˌən-dər-ˈtāk 

undertook ˌən-dər-ˈtu̇k  ; undertaken ˌən-dər-ˈtā-kən  ; undertaking

transitive verb

1

: to take upon oneself : set about : attempt

undertake a task

undertake to learn to swim

2

: to put oneself under obligation to perform

also : to accept as a charge or responsibility

the lawyer who undertook the case

3

: guarantee, promise

readily undertook that the letter should be securely conveyed

—Sir Walter Scott

intransitive verb

archaic : to give surety or assume responsibility

Synonyms

• accept
• assume
• bear
• shoulder
• take over

Examples of undertake in a Sentence

He's undertaking a thorough search.

The researchers undertook a series of studies.

Recent Examples on the Web

Spanish daily newspaper La Verdad reported that the busy shipping lane was declared unsafe for navigation, and a rescue operation was undertaken by vessels including a Russian military vessel, and a Spanish Navy patrol boat. —Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024

What Explains the Productivity Gap The productivity gap can be partially attributed to the nature of work undertaken by small and large businesses. —Kweilin Ellingrud, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

When Regina couriers over a copy of Blake the background actor’s spec script and some threatening fan mail from a particularly overenthusiastic Wavey ’shipper, Elsbeth undertakes a one-woman table read. —Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024

Most of the large social-media platforms have been aware of this reality for years and have undertaken at least basic measures to address it. —Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

undertake

verb

un·​der·​take ˌən-dər-ˈtāk 

undertook -ˈtu̇k  ; undertaken -ˈtā-kən  ; undertaking

1

: to take upon oneself as a task : enter upon

undertake a journey

2

: to take on as a duty : agree, contract

undertake to deliver a package