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to undertake

to undertake

190 4.2
Agree to do a job and be responsible for it
  • verb
  • /ˌʌndərˈteɪk/
translation icon : asumir
  • Meanwhile, John Glenn waits for the weather to clear so he can undertake this historic mission.
  • undertake a project
  • undertake a task
  • undertake a survey

But once he turned to philanthropy, undertook some very major projects.

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Examples

  • Never having known a time when he was not king, Henry undertook all the formal duties of office.

    Academic text (2011)
  • She decided to undertake the challenge of running a marathon to raise money for charity.

  • Four years ago, when I decided to undertake this mission, my name was too well known.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Some of you may well decide to undertake it for your first paper.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • So in order to undertake such a project, we obviously need brains.

  • We have decided to allow you to undertake another voyage to the New World.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • It's a system for companies that voluntarily undertake action to protect the environment.

  • When you are returned with your patrol to Korea and you go to Command Headquarters, what will be the first duty you will undertake?

  • They commissioned the University of Colorado to undertake a study.

  • Indigenous forces, like the paramilitary Frontier Corps, are best placed to undertake the difficult task of controlling the frontier.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

to take on
vsto undertake
405 2.8

To agree to do a job or task

is similar but also stresses responsibility for projects and duties
to tackle
vsto undertake
204 3.4

To try to deal with a difficult problem or task

focuses on agreeing to accept responsibility rather than effort or struggle
to take responsibility
vsto undertake
193 3.3

To admit you caused a problem and accept the blame

is about agreeing to do work rather than admitting fault or blame
to contract
vsto undertake
  • Formal
64 3.5

Make a formal written agreement to have someone do work

is a general promise to accept tasks without legal formality
to take on the challenge
vsto undertake
3 3.2

To accept a difficult task to test yourself

is used more generally for any task or duty not only hard ones

Antonyms

773 3.1

Leave someone or something behind permanently and without care

How Committed

to guarantee
2.8
to commit
139 3.3
to undertake
190 4.2
to agree
1.0

Surface Forms

undertake infinitive
undertaking present participle
undertakes third person singular
undertook past
undertaken past participle

Morphology

undertake = take (semi-transparent) = under + take

Formed from the productive prefix 'under-' + 'take', but the sense 'agree to do; assume responsibility' is not a literal 'under' + 'take' composition and the prefix functions as a grammatical/verbal formative rather than a spatial preposition.

Etymology

Undertake comes from the parts under- and take, which used to mean 'take under' someone's care. So, to undertake something is to agree to do it and 'be responsible' for it.