undertaking

undertaking — noun

1. A large, difficult, or important task, business activity, or project that a pers

1.nounB2
Definition

A large, difficult, or important task, business activity, or project that a person or organisation commits to carrying out.

Example

Feng's undertaking to build a school in the rural village raised over two million dollars.

undertaking + to-infinitive (committed project)

Organising the national medical conference was a massive undertaking for a team of only five staff members.

collocation: massive undertaking

Common collocations
  • massive undertaking
  • major undertaking
  • ambitious undertaking
  • complex undertaking
  • risky undertaking
  • rewarding undertaking
Synonyms
  • project

    a planned piece of work; less formal and can be smaller in scope than an undertaking

  • enterprise

    emphasises risk, ambition or initiative; often used for business ventures

  • endeavour

    formal; focuses on effort and serious attempt rather than size of the task

  • venture

    highlights risk and uncertainty, especially in a business or financial context

Grammar Patterns

undertaking + to-infinitive (the project of doing something)

Usage Note

Commonly modified by adjectives describing size or difficulty (massive, ambitious, complex, major). The to-infinitive pattern (an undertaking to do something) is typical in formal or news discourse.

Common Mistakes

Moving to a new house is a small undertaking.
Moving to a new house is a straightforward task.
'undertaking' implies something notably large or difficult, not everyday tasks.
I have an undertaking to finish my homework.
I have a homework assignment to finish.
'undertaking' is too formal and grand for routine personal tasks.

2. A formal, often legally binding, promise or agreement to do a specific thing or

2.nounB2
Definition

A formal, often legally binding, promise or agreement to do a specific thing or to behave in a particular way.

Example

The landlord gave a written undertaking to repair the broken windows within fourteen days.

give + written undertaking + to-infinitive

As part of the divorce settlement, both parties signed an undertaking not to discuss the case publicly.

sign an undertaking + not to-infinitive

Common collocations
  • give an undertaking
  • sign an undertaking
  • provide an undertaking
  • written undertaking
  • formal undertaking
  • oral undertaking
  • break an undertaking
  • honour an undertaking
Synonyms
  • pledge

    strong, sincere promise; slightly less legal in tone than undertaking

  • commitment

    broader term; can be formal or informal; emphasises dedication to a course of action

  • guarantee

    stresses certainty of outcome; often includes compensation if the promise is broken

Antonyms
  • breach

    the act of breaking a promise or agreement

  • refusal

    the act of declining to commit

Grammar Patterns

give (someone) an undertaking + to-infinitive

give (someone) an undertaking + that-clause

sign an undertaking

Usage Note

Frequently used in legal, business, and government contexts. Common verbs: give, provide, sign, break, honour, violate. The that-clause pattern is slightly more formal than the to-infinitive.

Common Mistakes

She made an undertaking to call her mother every week.
She made a promise to call her mother every week.
'undertaking' is too formal for casual personal promises.
He broke his undertaking by arriving late.
He broke his promise by arriving late.
use 'undertaking' only when the commitment carries serious or legal weight.

3. The act of driving past a slower vehicle on its left side while travelling on a

3.nounC1
Definition

The act of driving past a slower vehicle on its left side while travelling on a road, usually considered more dangerous than overtaking on the right.

Example

Undertaking on a British motorway can result in a fine and three penalty points on your licence.

variety label: British driving context

The Highway Code warns that undertaking is dangerous when left-lane vehicles move at very different speeds.

Common collocations
  • illegal undertaking
  • dangerous undertaking
  • undertaking on a motorway
  • prohibit undertaking
  • fine for undertaking
Antonyms
  • overtaking

    passing a vehicle on the right (in the UK); the normal, legal manoeuvre

Usage Note

Primarily a British English term. In the US, the equivalent manoeuvre (passing on the right) is called 'passing on the right' and the term 'undertaking' is not used for this sense. Distinguish from 'overtaking' (passing on the right, which is the standard manoeuvre).

Common Mistakes

He was fined for overtaking on the left.
He was fined for undertaking on the left.
'overtaking' normally refers to passing on the right (in the UK); 'undertaking' is the specific offence of passing on the left.

4. The business or profession of preparing dead bodies for burial or cremation and

4.nounC1
Definition

The business or profession of preparing dead bodies for burial or cremation and arranging funerals for grieving families.

Example

Kian's family has been in the undertaking business in County Cork for three generations.

collocation: in the undertaking business

Élise, a funeral director in Lyon, helped the Matsuda family choose a simple wooden coffin for their grandfather.

concrete scene: funeral director helping a family in Lyon

Common collocations
  • undertaking business
  • undertaking profession
  • undertaking firm
  • undertaking service
  • family undertaking
Synonyms
  • funeral direction

    modern, preferred term for the profession; less associated with the older word 'undertaker'

  • mortuary services

    narrower focus on the preparation of bodies rather than full funeral arrangements

Usage Note

Often used as a modifier (undertaking business, undertaking firm, undertaking profession). The term 'funeral director' is now more commonly used than 'undertaker' for the professional role. This sense is less frequent than the other three in everyday conversation.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words refer to a piece of work that requires effort, but they differ in scope, risk, and formality. 'Project' is the most general term — it can describe anything from a school assignment to a construction plan ('the library renovation project'). 'Enterprise' adds a sense of boldness or risk, often in a business context ('a commercial enterprise in Southeast Asia'). 'Endeavour' is more formal and focuses on serious, sustained effort ('a scientific endeavour to cure the disease'), regardless of whether it succeeds. 'Venture' highlights financial risk and uncertainty ('a joint venture between two tech companies'). 'Undertaking' sits between 'project' and 'endeavour' — it suggests a task that is notably large or difficult, without the financial-risk emphasis of 'venture' or the formality of 'endeavour'. A warning: 'enterprise' and 'undertaking' can sound dated if used for everyday tasks; 'project' is safer for routine planning. For example: 'setting up a school in a remote village is a major undertaking,' but 'painting the kitchen is just a weekend project.'

project ↗enterprise ↗endeavour ↗venture ↗

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

Formed in late Middle English from the verb 'undertake' (under + take), where 'under' carried the old sense of 'among, between' rather than 'beneath' — so 'undertake' originally meant 'to take on oneself, to assume responsibility'. The noun 'undertaking' first appeared in the early 1400s meaning 'something undertaken, a project'. By the 1500s it had also acquired the sense 'a formal promise or pledge'. The funeral-profession meaning emerged in the 1700s, from the idea that an undertaker 'undertakes' (takes on the responsibility of) making funeral arrangements.