undertaking
Americannoun
-
the act of a person who undertakes any task or responsibility.
-
a task, enterprise, etc., undertaken.
-
a promise; pledge; guarantee.
-
the business of an undertaker or funeral director.
noun
-
something undertaken; task, venture, or enterprise
-
an agreement to do something
-
the business of an undertaker
-
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.
Vocabulary lists containing undertaking
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Giver
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Can I Work It? Words for "Job"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
And building new pipelines is a multiyear, multibillion-dollar undertaking that requires not just steel and engineering, but land rights, security, financing and diplomatic agreements.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
Dislodging that is an enormous undertaking, requiring not just an alternative currency but an alternative legal system, an alternative deep capital market, and an alternative security architecture.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
Cochrane was cast following a massive undertaking by HBO to find young actors for the show.
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
"The club is fully co-operating with the EFL and the disciplinary commission, while also undertaking an internal review to ensure that all facts and context are properly understood," said Southampton CEO Phil Parsons.
From BBC • May 12, 2026
We were right about what he would intend to do: that he would not even pause for breath before undertaking to restore his house and plantation as near as possible to what it had been.
From "Absalom, Absalom!" by William Faulkner
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.
