undertake
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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)
verb
-
(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
-
archaic to make oneself responsible (for)
-
(tr) to promise
Other Word Forms
- preundertake verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of undertake
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English undertaken; under-, take
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Tudor, 47, did not undertake post-match media duties after the defeat by Forest because of the death of his father.
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026
The central bank said it will undertake an internal recruiting process to fill the vacancies.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026
The former Juventus boss did not undertake the usual post-match duties having been informed of a family bereavement.
From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026
Some of the men had to undertake intimate examinations and almost all of them spent periods of time on police bail or were released under investigation, it added.
From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026
“We had to think,” he later wrote, “about initiatives that we could undertake to show the enemy that we were still serious about our commitments in Vietnam.”
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
