Word
undertook
Phoneticsun·der·took
US/ˌəndɝˈtʊk/
UK/ˌʌndətˈʊk/
Definition
v. started a task or a job, especially one that takes a long time or is difficult.
v. the past tense of 'undertake'; refers to having committed oneself to and begun a specific task, responsibility, or journey.
Examples
“She undertook the difficult task of cleaning the entire house.”
“The university undertook a massive renovation project to modernize the science labs before the new semester.”
“The explorers undertook a perilous journey across the frozen tundra, knowing that their supplies would barely last until they reached the coastal outpost.”
Examples
simple
“She undertook the difficult task of cleaning the entire house.”
contextual
“The university undertook a massive renovation project to modernize the science labs before the new semester.”
complex
“The explorers undertook a perilous journey across the frozen tundra, knowing that their supplies would barely last until they reached the coastal outpost.”
Usage
Transitive; requires a direct object representing the task or responsibility.
Pitfall
He has undertook the work
He has undertaken the work
Learners often confuse the past tense 'undertook' with the past participle 'undertaken' in perfect tenses.
Real-World Examples
“In all, he undertook more than 70 operatic roles in performances throughout Britain and Europe.” “He also undertook a test when he returned to Italy which was negative, his club side Sassuolo said.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/undertook