undertake
part of speech
verb (undertake, undertakes, undertook, undertaken, undertaking) — formal
meaning for a pupil
1) To agree to do a piece of work or take on a job or task, often a big or hard one. tree →
2) To promise to do something: He undertook to pay the money back. tree →
3) (UK, informal driving) To overtake a vehicle on the wrong side (the inside lane). tree →
sense in the lessons
In formal language and exams, «undertake a project» means start and take responsibility for it. In science, you undertake an investigation. In UK driving talk, undertaking on a motorway is passing on the left, which is dangerous. Noun: undertaking (a big task or promise).
examples
- Our class undertook a project on recycling. tree →
- Scientists undertook a long study of whales. tree →
- She undertook to look after the class hamster. tree →
- Building the new bridge is a huge undertaking. tree →
- Don't undertake a long hike without enough water. tree →
- It is dangerous to undertake on the motorway. tree →
- “I will undertake the defence,” said Fionn. tree →
note
Irregular like take: undertook, undertaken. Formal; everyday words: take on, do, promise. Not linked in meaning to «undertaker».
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «undertake» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.