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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of undertaking

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

Example Sentences

Taking on a chip fab, as semiconductor manufacturing sites are called, would be a big undertaking for Tesla and SpaceX.

From The Wall Street Journal

Building the fab is a multibillion-dollar undertaking; Tesla may seek partners, though some analysts suggest it could be a solo-funded project.

From Barron's

For a president who needs to feel he's in control, was this a reflection of an undertaking already given, or a shot across Benjamin Netanyahu's bows?

From BBC

"It's one of these things that Leah was properly dressed, properly equipped and capable of the activities which she was undertaking. Accidents can happen to anyone," he said.

From BBC

Conceptualizing and building out a new stage each year is a massive undertaking.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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