undertake

Word family

un·der·take /ˌʌndəˈteɪk $ -dər-/ W3 AWL verb (past tensepst undertook /-ˈtʊk/, past participlepp undertaken /-ˈteɪkən/) [transitiveT] formal

1 PROMISEto accept that you are responsible for a piece of work, and start to do it 承担；着手做〔某事〕

undertake a task/a project/research/a study etc

Dr Johnson undertook the task of writing a comprehensive English dictionary.

约翰逊博士担负起编写一本综合性英语词典的工作。

2 undertake to do something formal to promise or agree to do something 承诺做某事，答应做某事

He undertook to pay the money back in six months.

他保证在六个月之内还钱。

► see thesaurus at promise → undertake

Examples from the Corpus

undertake to do something• The artist must undertake to act reasonably at all times if offered fair advice by his or her manager.• Labour must also undertake to curb spiralling local government spending.• At the beginning of his reign, Herod undertook to establish currency and legitimacy for himself.• But Claire Fraser was out there and he had undertaken to find her and persuade her to come home.• In addition, extensive research is being undertaken to improve existing lines and develop new products.• The government in turn undertook to keep price increases to a minimum.• ACE/AGIT recommend that one of the governors undertakes to look after the interests of the children with special educational needs.• Each country undertakes to negotiate in good faith.• They agreed to return to their barracks after the government undertook to pay them their January and February salaries.

n 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.

→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

undertake• Strategies for reducing school size at the secondary level are simple and easily undertaken.• There are four major initiatives a Government can undertake.• Nevertheless, it was independently undertaken, in a very matter-of-fact way, to assist a respected superior in coping.• Considerable research was undertaken into the original Superspec home at Colchester.• Members of these units are legal combatants and undertake legitimate military tasks.• It has also undertaken studies and simulation exercises in emergency planning.• Two new studies have been undertaken to determine the effects of the chemicals.

From Longman Business Dictionary