undertake

verb

un·​der·​take ˌən-dər-ˈtāk How to pronounce undertake (audio)
undertook ˌən-dər-ˈtu̇k How to pronounce undertake (audio) ; undertaken ˌən-dər-ˈtā-kən How to pronounce undertake (audio) ; 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
3
: guarantee, promise
readily undertook that the letter should be securely conveyedSir Walter Scott

intransitive verb

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 Moscow now exhibits no inhibitions about rattling every nuclear saber at its disposal, and Beijing has undertaken a rapid nuclear expansion to advance its revisionist agenda in the Asia-Pacific and beyond. Kyle Balzer, National Review, 12 Mar. 2024 Certainly, the most controversial of the changes undertaken by the new government was the firm decision by Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz, the new minister of culture and national heritage, to legally liquidate the state media and reestablish it under new management. Foreign Affairs, 12 Mar. 2024 The facts The mission is being undertaken by World Central Kitchen, the aid organization founded by celebrity chef Andrés, who is based in Washington. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 The upper basin proposal puts mandatory cuts on the three lower basin states if Lake Mead falls to a certain threshold, while offering the four upper basin states would also undertake voluntary reductions. Ella Nilsen, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024 The event was part of an effort the Los Gatos Saratoga Union High School District is undertaking to train their entire student population in the use of the overdose-reversing medication Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan. Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 The monarch continues to undertake state business and paperwork behind the scenes, and most recently met with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, who is the head of the government treasury, at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Ultimately, nonprofit law relies on those sitting on boards of directors to meet their fiduciary obligations to serve the charitable missions their organizations undertake. Nizan Geslevich Packin, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Rocket has undertaken multiple rounds of employee buyouts since the mortgage industry lurched from boomtimes to a slump once mortgage rates started climbing in early 2022 from historic lows. Detroit Free Press, 28 Feb. 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.

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of undertake was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near undertake

Cite this Entry

“Undertake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undertake. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

undertake

verb
un·​der·​take ˌən-dər-ˈtāk How to pronounce undertake (audio)
undertook -ˈtu̇k How to pronounce undertake (audio) ; undertaken -ˈtā-kən How to pronounce undertake (audio) ; 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

More from Merriam-Webster on undertake

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