undertake
undertake Lexical Profile
undertake Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To commit oneself to and begin a significant, difficult, or lengthy enterprise, task, or responsibility.
"The university decided to undertake a comprehensive study of urban air quality over the next five years."
To promise, guarantee, or pledge formally to do a particular thing.
"Under the terms of the settlement, the company undertook to reimburse all affected customers within thirty days."
British To pass or catch up with another vehicle while driving on the inside lane (the left lane in countries that drive on the left).
"The impatient driver was fined by the motorway police after attempting to undertake a slow-moving lorry in the left lane."
Word Nuance & Usage
In British traffic usage, 'undertake' means to pass a vehicle on the inside (nearside) lane, contrasting with 'overtake' (passing on the outside lane).
• Rhymes for undertake
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English undertaken, formed from under- (in the sense of 'among' or 'between') and taken ('to take'), patterned after Old English underniman ('to receive or take upon oneself').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.