undertaking

noun

un·​der·​tak·​ing ˈən-dər-ˌtā-kiŋ 

ˌən-dər-ˈtā-;

 sense 1b is  only ˈən-dər-ˌtā-

1

a

: the act of one who undertakes or engages in a project or business

b

: the business of an undertaker

2

: something undertaken : enterprise

3

: pledge, guarantee

Examples of undertaking in a Sentence

The restoration of the old theater is a huge undertaking.

He advised us against such a risky undertaking.

Recent Examples on the Web

Cost: Fertility and reproductive health management can be an expensive undertaking, but many options on our list fit a variety of budgets. —Latifah Miles, Parents, 8 Apr. 2024

Maintaining training runs for AI across so many systems—all connected by wires and switches—is a huge engineering undertaking. —Will Knight, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2024

Building bridges is a colossal undertaking, though, and structures that still serve their purpose are unlikely to be replaced. —Chris Quintana, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024

Until then, planes had to refuel multiple times, which made globe-trotting an arduous undertaking. —The Editors, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024

But Homendy has warned that the investigation will be a huge undertaking and could take one to two years. —Patrick Smith, NBC News, 28 Mar. 2024

But if the arrival of a multinational security mission seems far off, any hopes for an American intervention appear to be the stuff of history books; US operations in Haiti have so far focused on evacuation flights for American citizens, an undertaking that only started Wednesday. —Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024

No one disputes that eliminating lead from drinking water is an expensive undertaking. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024

Their survival rates are not as high as those in Minnesota, but the Paris undertaking demonstrates that ECPR can be taken to the patient — not just performed inside a hospital. —Helen Ouyang, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing undertaking

• give an undertaking

Kids Definition

undertaking

noun

un·​der·​tak·​ing ˈən-dər-ˌtā-kiŋ 

ˌən-dər-ˈtā-kiŋ;

 sense 1b is  ˈən-dər-ˌtā-kiŋ,

 only 

1

a

: the act of a person who undertakes something

b

: the business of an undertaker

2

: something undertaken

Legal Definition

undertaking

noun

un·​der·​tak·​ing

1

: a promise or pledge especially required by law

2

: something (as cash or a written promise) deposited or given as security especially in a court

Note: Undertakings are often required of one party during property actions (as for attachment) in order to compensate the other party should the court's action (as in attaching the property) be found unjustified later.