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
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 Cullens, who had once owned a solar company, retired in 2014 and finally undertook the transformation in December 2021.
—
Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
That may seem like a tiny difference, but the issues could mount when coordinating activities on the moon, such as a spacecraft seeking to dock on the moon or to undertake a data transfer at a specific time.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
Pamela Harriman subsequently transferred the property in 1995 for $990,000 to its current owner, who enlisted Solís Betancourt & Sherrill to undertake an extensive renovation and restoration of the premises in collaboration with Ivy Construction.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2024
Vision Marine does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, as required by law.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
The Catcher Was a Spy: Moe Berg, a Major League Baseball player, becomes a World War II spy, undertaking dangerous missions in Europe to gather intelligence and thwart Nazi nuclear ambitions.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Home Depot in recent years has purchased other businesses targeting professionals who undertake both complex and simple housing projects.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
If future biographers of Israeli prime ministers undertake a similar analysis, Netanyahu will no longer be able to claim the lowest casualty rate.
—Anshel Pfeffer, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2024
Late last month, the monarch also undertook his first face-to-face meeting with British Prime Minister Rishni Sunak since revealing his cancer news.
—Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
That may seem like a tiny difference, but the issues could mount when coordinating activities on the moon, such as a spacecraft seeking to dock on the moon or to undertake a data transfer at a specific time.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
Pamela Harriman subsequently transferred the property in 1995 for $990,000 to its current owner, who enlisted Solís Betancourt & Sherrill to undertake an extensive renovation and restoration of the premises in collaboration with Ivy Construction.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2024
Vision Marine does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, as required by law.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
The Catcher Was a Spy: Moe Berg, a Major League Baseball player, becomes a World War II spy, undertaking dangerous missions in Europe to gather intelligence and thwart Nazi nuclear ambitions.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Home Depot in recent years has purchased other businesses targeting professionals who undertake both complex and simple housing projects.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
If future biographers of Israeli prime ministers undertake a similar analysis, Netanyahu will no longer be able to claim the lowest casualty rate.
—Anshel Pfeffer, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2024
Late last month, the monarch also undertook his first face-to-face meeting with British Prime Minister Rishni Sunak since revealing his cancer news.
—Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'undertake.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near undertake
Cite this Entry
“Undertake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undertake. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
undertake
verb
un·der·take
ˌən-dər-ˈtāk
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