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
Republicans and Democrats across the country have been scrambling to undertake mid-decade redistricting, a practice that was rarely undertaken until this year.
—
Caroline Linton, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
His allies praise his tenure as prime minister for the innumerable infrastructural projects undertaken at his orders, the rise in private investments, and crucially, for keeping the country afloat in a burning region.
—Nabil Salih, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
Goldman has undertaken other efforts in the past to tax the rich, but hasn’t been as vocally forward on the issue as some of his possible Democratic challengers.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 4 Dec. 2025
Kate famously decorated their family's previous royal residences at Adelaide Cottage, Nottingham Cottage, Anmer Hall and Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace — sometimes undertaking large-scale renovations.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for undertake
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Caroline Linton, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
His allies praise his tenure as prime minister for the innumerable infrastructural projects undertaken at his orders, the rise in private investments, and crucially, for keeping the country afloat in a burning region.
—Nabil Salih, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
Goldman has undertaken other efforts in the past to tax the rich, but hasn’t been as vocally forward on the issue as some of his possible Democratic challengers.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 4 Dec. 2025
Kate famously decorated their family's previous royal residences at Adelaide Cottage, Nottingham Cottage, Anmer Hall and Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace — sometimes undertaking large-scale renovations.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for undertake
Cite this Entry
“Undertake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undertake. Accessed 11 Dec. 2025.
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undertake
verb
un·der·take
ˌən-dər-ˈtāk
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