undertake

Word parts

under- + take

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ʌndə'teɪk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form undertake

Third-person singular undertakes

Past tense undertook

Past participle undertaken

Present participle undertaking

1. (transitive) (formal) If you undertake something, you take responsibility for doing it and you start to do it.

   He is in charge of this project and has undertaken this work largely single-handed since July.

   After a common two years, some students undertake industrial or professional placement in their third year.

   Britain has apparently undertaken to review its own aid to Vietnam.

Related words

• undertaking (noun)
• undertaker