UNDERTAKE (undertaken, undertook)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: undertaken    , undertook   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does undertake mean? 

• UNDERTAKE (verb)
  The verb UNDERTAKE has 5 senses:

1. enter upon an activity or enterprise

2. accept as a challenge

3. promise to do or accomplish

4. enter into a contractual arrangement

5. accept as a charge

  Familiarity information: UNDERTAKE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNDERTAKE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they undertake    ... he / she / it undertakes   
Past simple: undertook   
Past participle: undertaken   
-ing form: undertaking   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Enter upon an activity or enterprise

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

attempt; set about; undertake

Hypernyms (to "undertake" is one way to...):

initiate; pioneer (take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s VERB-ing

Derivation:

undertaking (any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Accept as a challenge

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

tackle; take on; undertake

Context example:

I'll tackle this difficult task

Hypernyms (to "undertake" is one way to...):

confront; face; face up (deal with (something unpleasant) head on)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "undertake"):

rise (exert oneself to meet a challenge)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Promise to do or accomplish

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

guarantee; undertake

Context example:

guarantee to free the prisoners

Hypernyms (to "undertake" is one way to...):

assure; promise (make a promise or commitment)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "undertake"):

subvent; subvention; underwrite (guarantee financial support of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sense 4

Meaning:

Enter into a contractual arrangement

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

contract; undertake

Hypernyms (to "undertake" is one way to...):

assure; promise (make a promise or commitment)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "undertake"):

stipulate (make an oral contract or agreement in the verbal form of question and answer that is necessary to give it legal force)

sign (be engaged by a written agreement)

condition; qualify; specify; stipulate (specify as a condition or requirement in a contract or agreement; make an express demand or provision in an agreement)

lease; rent (let for money)

charter; hire; lease; rent (hold under a lease or rental agreement; of goods and services)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They undertake to move

Sense 5

Meaning:

Accept as a charge

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

take in charge; undertake

Hypernyms (to "undertake" is one way to...):

accept; consent; go for (give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

If I were to undertake it, I should only disappoint you.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

I arrived here yesterday, and my first task is to assure my dear sister of my welfare and increasing confidence in the success of my undertaking.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

"God will protect you; for you have undertaken His work," I answered.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

An adverse event that has life-threatening consequences; for which urgent intervention is indicated; that puts the patient at risk of death at the time of the event if immediate intervention is not undertaken.

(Life Threatening Adverse Event, NCI Thesaurus)

I learned that your object was to invite Mr. Sherlock Holmes to undertake the conduct of this case.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This is the first time such a comparison has been undertaken.

(Ancient defence strategy continues to protect plants from pathogens, University of Cambridge)

I would undertake for five pounds to drive it to York and back again, without losing a nail.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Any specific activity undertaken during the course of a clinical study or research protocol.

(Clinical or Research Activity, NCI Thesaurus)

He undertakes it; (looking towards Captain Wentworth,) he is writing about it now.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

'If Miss Taylor undertakes to wrap Miss Emma up, you need not have any fears, sir.'

(Emma, by Jane Austen)