# undertook

/ˌəndɝˈtʊk/ (US) · /ˌʌndətˈʊk/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/undertook
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

started a task or a job, especially one that takes a long time or is difficult.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He has undertook the work" but "He has undertaken the work" — Learners often confuse the past tense 'undertook' with the past participle 'undertaken' in perfect tenses.

## Usage notes

- Transitive; requires a direct object representing the task or responsibility.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.