undertake
verb
un·der·take
ˌən-dər-ˈtāk 
undertook
ˌən-dər-ˈtu̇k
; undertaken
ˌən-dər-ˈtā-kən
; undertaking
; undertaken
ˌən-dər-ˈtā-kən
; undertaking
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
—often followed by to + a verb He undertook to raise his sister's children.
archaic
: to give surety or assume responsibility
Examples of undertake in a Sentence
He's undertaking a thorough search.
The researchers undertook a series of studies.
Recent Examples on the Web
The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to refrain from interfering in each other’s internal affairs.
—
Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 17 June 2026
The lawsuit requests that the clinic undertake free genetic testing for all patients and children whose births resulted from embryo implantation during the past five years, the amount of time the clinic had the couple's embryos in its possession.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 17 June 2026
The United States undertakes to issue all necessary permits and licenses on this basis.
—Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States undertake to negotiate and reach a final agreement within a maximum period of 60 days, extendable by mutual consent.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for undertake
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Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 17 June 2026
The lawsuit requests that the clinic undertake free genetic testing for all patients and children whose births resulted from embryo implantation during the past five years, the amount of time the clinic had the couple's embryos in its possession.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 17 June 2026
The United States undertakes to issue all necessary permits and licenses on this basis.
—Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States undertake to negotiate and reach a final agreement within a maximum period of 60 days, extendable by mutual consent.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for undertake
Cite this Entry
“Undertake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undertake. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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undertake
verb
un·der·take
ˌən-dər-ˈtāk
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