undertake

UK: /ˌʌndə^rˈteɪk/ US: /ˌʌndɚˈteɪk/ ,(un′dər tāk′)

Inflections of 'undertake' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

undertakes

v 3rd person singular

undertaking

v pres p

undertook

v past

undertaken

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

un•der•take /ˌʌndɚˈteɪk/   v., -took, -tak•en, -tak•ing. 

1. to take upon oneself, as a task or performance;
   attempt:
   [~ + object] He undertook the job of answering the mail.
2. to promise or state as a promise (to do something):
   [~ + to + verb] He undertook to finish the job ahead of schedule.
3. to take in charge:
   [~ + object] The lawyer undertook a new case.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

un•der•take  (un′dər tāk′), v., -took, -tak•en, -tak•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to take upon oneself, as a task, performance, etc.;
   attempt:
   She undertook the job of answering all the mail.
2. to promise, agree, or obligate oneself (fol. by an infinitive):
   The married couple undertook to love, honor, and cherish each other.
3. to warrant or guarantee (fol. by a clause):
   The sponsors undertake that their candidate meets all the requirements.
4. to take in charge;
   assume the duty of attending to:
   The lawyer undertook a new case.

v.i. 

5. [Archaic.] to engage oneself by promise;
   give a guarantee, or become surety.

• 1150–1200; Middle English undertaken; see under-, take

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

undertake / ˌʌndəˈteɪk/ verb ( -takes, -taking, -took, -taken)

1. (transitive) to contract to or commit oneself to (something) or (to do something): to undertake a job, to undertake to deliver the goods
2. (transitive) to attempt to; agree to start
3. (transitive) to take (someone) in charge
4. (intransitive) followed by for: to make oneself responsible (for)
5. (transitive) to promise