undertaken

undertaken — verb

1. The past participle form of the verb 'undertake,' used together with an auxiliar

1.verbB2
Definition

The past participle form of the verb 'undertake,' used together with an auxiliary verb to describe something that has been started, agreed to do, or carried out — especially when the task is difficult or takes a long time.

Example

The research project was undertaken by Élise and her colleagues at the university.

passive: be undertaken by [person/group]

Lukas has undertaken a long journey across the mountains of South America.

present perfect: has undertaken + [noun phrase]

Common collocations
  • undertaken by
  • undertaken for
  • undertaken as part of
  • carefully undertaken
  • previously undertaken
Synonyms
  • carried out

    more general and less formal; used for tasks, orders, or plans that are completed

  • conducted

    common in research or organised activities such as experiments, surveys, or meetings

  • performed

    suggests carrying out a set of expected actions or duties, often with a specific procedure

  • taken on

    less formal phrasal verb that emphasises accepting responsibility or a challenge

Antonyms
  • abandoned

    suggests stopping something that had already been started

  • avoided

    suggests choosing not to start or get involved with a task

Grammar Patterns

have/has/had + undertaken (perfect)

be + undertaken (passive)

Usage Note

Cannot be used alone as a finite verb — it always requires an auxiliary (has, have, had, was, were, is, are, been). Common in formal and academic writing; in everyday conversation, speakers often prefer the past tense 'undertook' (e.g. 'She undertook the project last year').

Common Mistakes

The team undertaken the project last month.
The team undertook the project last month.
'undertaken' needs an auxiliary verb; use simple past 'undertook' without one.
The work was undertake by a local firm.
The work was undertaken by a local firm.
after 'was' in passive voice, use the past participle 'undertaken,' not the base form.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four alternatives describe completing or doing a task, but they differ in register, scope, and connotation. 'Carried out' is the most neutral and widely used — it works for orders, plans, experiments, or duties in both formal and informal contexts. 'Conducted' implies a structured or official process, making it the best fit for research, surveys, or investigations (e.g. 'The study was conducted by a university team'). 'Performed' suggests following a specific procedure or set of steps, often in medical, technical, or artistic settings (e.g. 'The surgery was performed by a skilled surgeon'). 'Taken on' is the least formal and emphasises accepting a responsibility or challenge rather than completing it. For example: 'The charity carried out a survey of local needs' (neutral), but 'The charity has taken on a huge project' (focus on acceptance).

carried outconductedperformed ↗taken on

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • be undertaken by
  • have/has undertaken to
  • had previously undertaken

Prepositions

  • by
  • for
  • as part of
  • on behalf of
  • in collaboration with

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

'Undertaken' is the past participle of 'undertake,' which comes from Middle English 'undertaken,' formed from 'under-' + 'taken' (to take). The original Old English verb 'underniman' meant 'to receive, to accept.' By the 1300s it had developed the sense of 'to take on a task or responsibility,' and the past participle 'undertaken' has been in use since then to form perfect and passive constructions.