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

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