undertaking

American  

[uhn-der-tey-king, uhn-der-tey-, uhn-der-tey-king] / ˌʌn dərˈteɪ kɪŋ, ˈʌn dərˌteɪ-, ˈʌn dərˌteɪ kɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person who undertakes any task or responsibility.

2. a task, enterprise, etc., undertaken.

   Synonyms:

   venture, effort, job, endeavor, project

3. a promise; pledge; guarantee.

4. the business of an undertaker or funeral director.

---

undertaking British  

/ ˈʌndəˌteɪkɪŋ /

noun

1. something undertaken; task, venture, or enterprise

2. an agreement to do something

3. the business of an undertaker

4. informal the practice of overtaking on an inner lane a vehicle which is travelling in an outer lane

---

Etymology

Origin of undertaking

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; see origin at under, taking

Explanation

Painting a house is a serious undertaking––it looks simple but involves a lot of preparation and hard work. An undertaking is a job or a task you commit to. The word also can mean the profession of funeral management. When you take something under consideration, it means you're not necessarily going to do it, you're just going to think about it. When you take something on, you've undertaken to actually do it. The word undertaking suggests something that involves quite a bit of work. Organizing an Oxfam hunger-day at your school is a significant undertaking, but it's worth all the effort.

Example Sentences

A federal judge refused to decide on the issue while the FDA was undertaking its review.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

"The areas where they started were almost inaccessible to the general public. This happens year after year... and there's no consequences for those that are undertaking these actions," McMullan said.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

There is a bit of flexibility, but beyond a certain point it requires building additional infrastructure, a costly and lengthy undertaking.

From Barron's • Apr. 26, 2026

Sorting through wonky government websites in a moment of crisis is not a pleasant undertaking, so it’s best to begin exploring options before the end approaches, if you can.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026

It was not the path that Reggie had once idealized, but it was a clear direction and one he was undertaking with typical, quiet resolve.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

Related Words

• affair
• effort
• enterprise
• experiment
• operation
• project
• proposition
• task
• venture