undertake
gb/ˈʌndɚtˌeɪk/ us/ˈʌndɚtˌeɪk/
B2
English
~ 1800
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
Agree to take on a duty
To say you will do a job or task and be responsible for it.
Usage pattern:
to undertake [a task / a project / responsibility]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'undertake' with 'understand' because of similar spelling, but they have very different meanings.
Synonyms
take on (Slightly more informal and common in spoken English for accepting a responsibility.)
Antonyms
refuse (Means to say no to taking on a responsibility.)
Collocations
undertake a project
|undertake responsibility
|undertake a task
|undertake a mission
Themes
work
|business
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company will undertake the renovation of the old theater.
- She undertook the role of team leader without hesitation.
- We are prepared to undertake the necessary changes to improve performance.
- The government has undertaken a review of the education system.
Learner examples
- I will undertake the work tomorrow.
- She undertakes the job with care.
- They undertake the cleaning of the park.
- We will undertake this project together.
Verb
B2
action
2
Begin an important or hard job
To start doing an important or hard task.
Usage pattern:
to undertake [a journey / an investigation / a study]
Common mistake:
Learners may use 'do' instead of 'undertake' when they want to sound more formal or precise for serious tasks.
Synonyms
embark on (Often used for starting something new and challenging, with a slightly more literary tone.)
Antonyms
abandon (Means to stop doing something before it is finished.)
Collocations
undertake a journey
|undertake research
|undertake an investigation
Themes
work
|travel
|research
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They undertook a long journey across the desert.
- The scientist undertook research into renewable energy.
- We will undertake an investigation into the cause of the accident.
Learner examples
- We will undertake a trip next month.
- He undertakes a study about animals.
- They undertake an investigation about the fire.
Grammar
Dictionary form
undertake
IPA
GB/ˈʌndɚtˌeɪk/
US/ˈʌndɚtˌeɪk/
Syllables & stress
un - der - take (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (un)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: undertake
- 3rd Person Singular: under-takes, undertakes
- Present Participle: under-taking, undertaking
- Past: under-took, undertook
- Past Participle: under-taken, undertaken
Word family
Forms
under-takes
verb
undertakes
verb
under-taking
verb
undertaking
verb
under-took
verb
undertook
verb
under-taken
verb
undertaken
verb
Related words
undertaker
noun
Highlights
- Irregular past: under-took, undertook Verb
- Irregular past participle: under-taken, undertaken Verb
Expressions
undertake a project
1/ˈʌndɚtˌeɪk ə pɹˈɑd͡ʒɛkt/
fixed phrase
Start working on a planned job
To begin doing a planned piece of work or activity.
Examples
- The team will undertake a project to improve road safety.
- Our company is undertaking a project in renewable energy.
undertake an investigation
1/ˈʌndɚtˌeɪk ən ɪnvˌɛstəɡˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Begin looking into something carefully
To start finding out information about something in detail.
Examples
- The police will undertake an investigation into the missing funds.
- We are undertaking an investigation to find the cause of the problem.
undertake responsibility
1/ˈʌndɚtˌeɪk ɹispˌɑnsɪbˈɪləti/
fixed phrase
Accept responsibility for something
To agree that you will be in charge of something and take care of it.
Examples
- He decided to undertake responsibility for organizing the conference.
- Parents must undertake responsibility for their children's education.