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REFERENCE

undertake

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈəndɝˌteɪk// UK //ˌʌndətˈeɪk// un·der·take Academic Archaic General-service Informal

v. to agree to do a job or a piece of work, especially one that is difficult or takes a long time. It means you are taking responsibility for finishing the task.

v. to commit oneself to and begin a task, project, or responsibility. Transitive — requires a direct object, typically a noun phrase representing a formal duty or complex activity.


SIMPLE

The university will undertake a major study on climate change.

CONTEXTUAL

The construction firm agreed to undertake the bridge repair project despite the tight deadline and limited budget.

COMPLEX

Before you undertake such a massive renovation, you must ensure that you have secured all the necessary permits and have sufficient capital to cover unexpected structural repairs.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English undertaken; equivalent to under- + take (after undernim).

Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. It is often used in formal or professional contexts rather than casual conversation.

Pitfall

undertake to a taskundertake a taskUndertake is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition 'to' before its object.

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