undertake

un·der·take

verb \ˌən-dər-ˈtāk\

un·der·took\-ˈtu̇k\un·der·tak·en\-ˈtā-kən\un·der·tak·ing

Definition of UNDERTAKE

transitive verb

1

: to take upon oneself : set about : attempt <undertake a task> <undertake to learn to swim>

2

: to put oneself under obligation to perform; also : to accept as a charge or responsibility <the lawyer who undertook the case>

3

: guarantee, promise <readily undertook that the letter should be securely conveyed — Sir Walter Scott>

intransitive verb

archaic : to give surety or assume responsibility

Examples of UNDERTAKE

1. He's undertaking a thorough search.
2. The researchers undertook a series of studies.

First Known Use of UNDERTAKE

14th century

Related to UNDERTAKE

Synonyms: accept, bear, shoulder, take over, assume

Antonyms: disavow, disclaim, disown, repudiate

Related Words: adopt, embrace, take up; advocate, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), espouse, stand by, support, uphold; accede, acquiesce, agree, assent, consent; reaccept, reassume

Near Antonyms: abjure, recant, renounce, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw; decline, refuse, reject, spurn, turn down; abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from); avoid, bypass, detour; abandon, abnegate, forsake, give up, relinquish, spurn, surrender; back down, back off, backtrack

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Rhymes with UNDERTAKE

aerobrake, bellyache, coaster brake, coffee break, coral snake, double take, garter snake, give-and-take, Great Bear Lake, Great Salt Lake, griddle cake, halterbreak, johnnycake, kittiwake, make-or-break, marble cake, microquake, overtake, patty-cake, plumber's snake, put-and-take, rattlesnake, Reindeer Lake, silver hake, station break, stomachache, wapentake, water snake, wedding cake, wideawake