undertook

verbattempt, engage in

Synonyms for undertook

verb attempt, engage in

Antonyms for undertook

Word Origin & History

c.1200, "to entrap," in the same sense as Old English underniman (cf. Dutch ondernemen, German unternehmen), of which it is a partial loan-translation, from under + take. Cf. also French entreprendre "to undertake," from entre "between, among" + prendre "to take." The under in this word may be the same one that also may form the first element of understand. Meaning "to accept" is attested from mid-13c.; that of "to take upon oneself, to accept the duty of" is from c.1300.

Example Sentences forundertook

Even she always stopped soon, if she undertook to interfere with Malbone.

The march of events was rapid even for him, who was not slow in anything he undertook.

Left to himself, Lauzanne undertook an investigating gallop on his own account.

Montacute undertook the enterprise on the 19th of October, 1330.

And after that we undertook another little campaign in Italy.

Alfred Vail undertook to provide an instrument for exhibition in Europe.

Then I undertook the bust of my young sister Rgina, who had, alas!

I first did two or three small pictures, then I undertook the portrait of my dear Gurard.

Mowbray undertook to manage it, and he, as usual, succeeded.

The Judge wanted an office built, and Johnson undertook to make it.