un ‧ der ‧ take W3 AC /ˌʌndəˈteɪk $ -dər-/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense undertook /-ˈtʊk/, past participle undertaken /-ˈteɪkən/) [transitive] formal
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ takings , ↑ undertaking , ↑ take , ↑ taker ; verb : ↑ take , ↑ overtake , ↑ undertake ]
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ undertake ; noun : ↑ undertaking ]
1 . to accept that you are responsible for a piece of work, and start to do it
undertake a task/a project/research/a study etc
Dr Johnson undertook the task of writing a comprehensive English dictionary.
2 . undertake to do something to promise or agree to do something:
He undertook to pay the money back in six months.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ undertake a task/project
Every task he undertook was tackled with great determination.
▪ undertake work
The work is being undertaken by team of experts.
▪ undertake research/a study
Students may undertake full-time supervised research leading to the award of a Ph.D.
▪ undertake a review/analysis
The Court of Appeal decided to undertake a review of the Law.
▪ undertake a journey/voyage
You should not undertake a long journey if you are unwell.
▪ undertake duties (=do things as part of your job)
I’m rarely asked to undertake teaching duties these days.
■ phrases
▪ something is not to be undertaken lightly (=not to be started without serious thought, for example because it is difficult)
It was not a voyage to be undertaken lightly.
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THESAURUS
▪ promise to tell someone that you will definitely do something, or that something will happen:
He promised to give the book back.
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The organisers have promised that this year’s event will take place.
▪ swear to make a very serious and sincere promise, for example in a law court:
He had sworn to tell the truth.
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I would never do that, I swear.
▪ give somebody your word especially spoken to promise sincerely that you will do something or that something is true – often used when you are trying to persuade someone that they can trust you:
I give you my word that your money is safe with me.
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I’ll let you go out tonight if you give me your word that you’ll be home by 11.
▪ vow to make a very serious promise, often to yourself:
She vowed that she would never drink alcohol again.
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They vowed to carry on their campaign for justice.
▪ assure to promise someone that something will happen or that something is true, in order to try to make them feel less worried:
Police have assured the public that they are doing everything they can to find the killer.
▪ guarantee to promise that you will make sure that something will definitely happen, so that there is no question of it not happening:
I guarantee that you will have the documents by tomorrow.
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How can you guarantee that this won’t happen again?
▪ pledge to promise publicly or officially that you will do something, for example to give help or money:
The government has pledged to increase overseas aid to $4 billion over the next five years.
▪ undertake formal to make an official or legal promise to do something:
The government undertook to keep price increases to a minimum.
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The two sides undertook to respect each other’s territory.
▪ commit to something formal to make a firm and definite promise to do something important, which will affect you for a long time and which could result in serious effects if you fail:
Bobby felt unready to commit to a romantic relationship.
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A group of 11 companies has committed to developing a new passenger plane.