UNDERTAKE (undertaken, undertook)

Pronunciation (US):

• 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.

• UNDERTAKE (verb)

Meaning:

Enter upon an activity or enterprise

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

undertake; set about; attempt

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

Meaning:

Accept as a challenge

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

tackle; undertake; take on

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

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

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

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