undertake — to commit oneself to and begin (an enterprise or responsibility); take on
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to commit oneself to and begin (an enterprise or responsibility); take on
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌʌndərˈteɪk/
Example Sentences
- The government undertook comprehensive healthcare reforms.
- My grandmother decided to undertake bungee jumping at age 80.
- The company will undertake a major expansion next year.
undertake
VERB[/ˌʌndərˈteɪk/]
to commit oneself to and begin (an enterprise or responsibility); take on
The team undertakes the difficult bridge project.
The explorer undertook a dangerous journey into the mountains. (UNDER + TAKE → Take on a responsibility.)
Undertake the task — don’t hesitate to make the breakthrough you seek.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle English 'undertaken', combining the prefix 'under-' with the verb 'take'. The prefix 'under-' originally meant 'among' or 'between' but evolved to mean 'beneath' or 'subordinate', while 'take' comes from Old Norse 'taka'.
Breakdown
under- (beneath, subordinate) + take (seize, grasp) = undertake (to commit oneself to begin an enterprise)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The government undertook comprehensive healthcare reforms.”
“My grandmother decided to undertake bungee jumping at age 80.”
“The company will undertake a major expansion next year.”
“He undertook to teach his cat advanced mathematics.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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