undertake

verb

un·​der·​take ˌən-dər-ˈtāk 

undertook ˌən-dər-ˈtu̇k  ; undertaken ˌən-dər-ˈtā-kən  ; undertaking

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

—often followed by to + a verb

He undertook to raise his sister's children.

3

: guarantee, promise

… readily undertook that the letter should be securely conveyed …

—Sir Walter Scott

intransitive verb

archaic : to give surety or assume responsibility

Synonyms of undertake

• accept
• assume
• shoulder

Examples of undertake in a Sentence

He's undertaking a thorough search.

The researchers undertook a series of studies.

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2019, property investor Dean Main bought it as an empty shell and undertook a meticulous three-year renovation to transform it into a glamorous escape. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 27 May 2026

The feasibility study suggested adding trails and basic amenities, restoring the forest, and undertaking major stabilization work. —Michael Wells, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026

In France, the removal of the Vezins in 2020 and La Roche-Qui-Boit in 2022 dams on the Sélune River, which had been operating since the 1920s and 1930s, restored nearly 90 kilometers (56 miles) of free-flowing river in one of the largest dam removal projects ever undertaken in Europe. —Radina Gigova, CNN Money, 27 May 2026

India is undertaking tests of some of its most sensitive public-facing financial and government application software to better understand their vulnerabilities to Anthropic PBC’s next-generation Mythos AI model, according to Indian officials familiar with the matter. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for undertake

• overtake
• rattlesnake
• shiitake
• wapentake
• ache
• ake
• bake
• brake
• break
• cake
• craik
• crake

Kids Definition

undertake

verb

un·​der·​take ˌən-dər-ˈtāk 

undertook -ˈtu̇k  ; undertaken -ˈtā-kən  ; undertaking

1

: to take upon oneself as a task : enter upon

undertake a journey

2

: to take on as a duty : agree, contract

undertake to deliver a package