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

The latter, served in the back half of the long dining room, is a two-hour undertaking priced at an approachable ninety-eight dollars per person. —Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2024

Removing pieces of the mangled bridge from the river will be a massive undertaking that could take weeks. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024

But the Israel-Hamas war added staggering complexities to what was already going to be a historically ambitious undertaking. —Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024

Its most ambitious undertaking, the FAME Renaissance Center, opened in 2001 to house the church’s economic development arm, which was intended to create jobs and provide hope in a neighborhood that had been depressed by civil unrest. —Gayle Pollard-Terry, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024

Still, the church presents an enormous undertaking, likely one of the largest houses of worship for Latino evangelicals in Milwaukee. —Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2024

To say the AfCFTA is a heroic undertaking would be an understatement. —Harry G. Broadman, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

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

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.