definitions

undertake

[ uhn-der-teyk ]
/ ˌʌn dərˈteɪk /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR undertake ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), un·der·took, un·der·tak·en, un·der·tak·ing.

to take upon oneself, as a task, performance, etc.; attempt: She undertook the job of answering all the mail.
to promise, agree, or obligate oneself (followed by an infinitive): The married couple undertook to love, honor, and cherish each other.
to warrant or guarantee (followed by a clause): The sponsors undertake that their candidate meets all the requirements.
to take in charge; assume the duty of attending to: The lawyer undertook a new case.

verb (used without object), un·der·took, un·der·tak·en, un·der·tak·ing.

Archaic. to engage oneself by promise; give a guarantee, or become surety.

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RELATED WORDS

shoulder, begin, launch, offer, try, initiate, tackle, commence, guarantee, covenant, stake, pledge, devote, move, bargain, stipulate, embark, promise, contract, venture

Nearby words

understrength, understructure, understudy, undersubscribe, undersurface, undertake, undertaker, undertaking, undertenant, underthings, underthroating

Origin of undertake

1150–1200; Middle English undertaken; see under-, take
Related formspre·un·der·take, verb (used with object), pre·un·der·took, pre·un·der·tak·en, pre·un·der·tak·ing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for undertake

British Dictionary definitions for undertake

undertake

/ (ˌʌndəˈteɪk) /

verb -takes, -taking, -took or -taken

(tr) to contract to or commit oneself to (something) or (to do something)to undertake a job; to undertake to deliver the goods
(tr) to attempt to; agree to start
(tr) to take (someone) in charge
(intr foll by for) archaic to make oneself responsible (for)
(tr) to promise
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for undertake

undertake

v.

c.1200, "to entrap," in the same sense as Old English underniman (cf. Dutch ondernemen, German unternehmen), of which it is a partial loan-translation, from under + take. Cf. also French entreprendre "to undertake," from entre "between, among" + prendre "to take." The under in this word may be the same one that also may form the first element of understand. Meaning "to accept" is attested from mid-13c.; that of "to take upon oneself, to accept the duty of" is from c.1300.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper