undertakingun‧der‧tak‧ing /ˌʌndəˈteɪkɪŋ $ ˈʌndərteɪ-/ ●●○ AWL noun 
Starting a new business can be a risky undertaking.2[countable] formal a promise to do something: Both organizations gave an undertaking to curb violence among their members.3[uncountable] the business of an undertaker
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Before we can release you, we need an undertaking that you will not leave town before the trial.
- Building the dam will be a major undertaking.
- Covering an Olympics is an extraordinary undertaking for any television company.
- Everybody needs to realise that this is a huge undertaking.
- In the late 1980s, the US embarked on a major undertaking: the human genome project.
- Khrushchev demanded an American undertaking not to attack Cuba.
- However, will he give one undertaking?
- If success follows at the polls, legislative programmes then have to be drawn up to implement the incoming Government's undertakings.
- Now its innocence had vanished, and it was thronged with worldly-wise urban people intent upon sophisticated urban undertakings.
- Proceedings for contempt of court are the means by which obedience to orders of the court and adherence to undertakings are ensured.
- Sir Gordon Willmer also proceeded by reference to the breach of undertaking.
- The Select Committee that examined the Bill took a very close interest in and sought several undertakings about groundwater.
THESAURUS
a statement that you will definitely do or provide something, which may not be reliable: · ‘I’ll call you tomorrow.’ ‘Is that a promise?’· Politicians are always making promises.
a public or official promise to do a particular thing in the future: · The Government has fulfilled at least 50% of its election pledges.· We have received pledges of help from various organizations.
a very serious promise to do something or not to do something that you choose to make: · He made a vow never to drink alcohol again.· your marriage vows
a formal promise, especially one that someone makes in a court of law: · Witnesses swear a solemn oath to tell the truth.· Public officials must take an oath to support the US Constitution.
a serious or public promise to do something, especially something difficult which needs a lot of effort or money: · The police have given an undertaking to reduce street crime in the city centre.· He was made to sign a written undertaking that he would not go within a mile of her house.
a promise that something will happen or is true, made so that someone is less worried or more confident: · You have my assurance that it won’t happen again.· The manager gave me his personal assurance that the goods would be delivered today.
a very definite promise that something will happen. A guarantee is also a formal written promise by a company to repair or replace a product free if it has a fault within a fixed period of time.: · With any diet, there’s no guarantee of success.· I’m afraid I can’t give you a 100% guarantee.· Is the camera still under guarantee (=within the period during which it can be repaired or replaced free)?
Longman Language Activatora promise a statement telling someone that you will definitely do something that they want you to do: · "I'll call you tomorrow." "Is that a promise?"promise of: · The refugees are relying on promises of food and aid from the West.make a promise: · Making promises is risky for a company, but it usually does result in improved customer relations.promise to do something: · Scott made a campaign promise not to raise taxes.promise that: · He left with a promise that he would be back before six.
a promise that something will definitely happen or is definitely true, which makes someone less worried or more confident: · Despite all their assurances, they broke the agreement and signed a deal with a rival company.assurance that: · I need an assurance that you will support me.give somebody an assurance: · The manager gave me his personal assurance that the parts would be here today.give somebody an assurance about/on: · His lawyer was unwilling to give him any kind of assurance about the outcome of the trial.
a promise that something will happen or be provided, because you are going to make sure of this. A guarantee is also a formal written promise by a company to repair or replace a product free if it has a fault within a fixed period of time: guarantee that: · The contract contains a guarantee that the building will be finished within 6 months.· After the Second World War, Belgium wanted a guarantee that it would not be invaded again.under guarantee (=within the period when a company promises to repair a product free of charge if something goes wrong): · Is the camera still under guarantee?
a promise to do something that will take a long time or involve a lot of effort: · The peace talks ended with smiles and handshakes, but no commitment.· Marriage, ideally, is a lifelong commitment.make a commitment: · The organization has made a commitment to plant 5,000 trees in San Francisco.commitment to: · The American adviser expressed America's commitment to Africa's economic development.commitment to doing something: · The governor has a strong commitment to creating jobs in the state.
a public or official promise to give help, support, or money to an organization, group, or person: · The Government has fulfilled at least 50% of its election pledges.pledge of: · We have received pledges of help from various organizations.pledge to do something: · The coup leaders have ignored their pledges to hold democratic elections.
a formal and serious promise, especially one that someone makes in a court of law: take/swear an oath (=make a promise): · Adams was elected to the British Parliament, but refused to swear an oath to the English Queen.under oath (=while you have made a promise to tell the truth in a court of law): · He admitted that he had lied under oath.oath of office (=the promises you make when you are elected to a government position): · The president takes the oath of office in a public ceremony.oath to do something: · Public officials must take an oath to support the U.S. Constitution.
a public or official promise to do something, especially something difficult, which needs a lot of effort or money, and that you will be responsible for making sure that it is done: undertaking to do something: · Khrushchev demanded an American undertaking not to attack Cuba.undertaking that: · Before we can release you, we need an undertaking that you will not leave town before the trial.
an important piece of work an important piece of work that an organization, group, or person plans carefully in order to achieve a particular aim over a long period of time: · The federal government will help fund this immense project, which includes the building of 150 day-care centers.· The government scrapped the project after ruling that the costs were too high.· I've been working on the Inner City Development Project for the last five years.educational/construction/research etc project: · a joint US--British research project· These are encouraging signs that the ballpark project is moving from blueprint to reality.
an important job that someone is sent to do in another place, especially for a military or political purpose: · He was immediately sent to Paris. His mission was to negotiate a ceasefire.· He volunteered to embark on a dangerous secret mission into occupied France.· a rescue mission to salvage a satellitecombat/military mission: · I flew on over 280 combat missions in two wars, so I'm used to danger.
a big or important job, which you decide or agree to do, and which you will be responsible for: huge/major/big etc undertaking: · In the late 1980s, the US embarked on a major undertaking: the human genome project.· Everybody needs to realise that this is a huge undertaking.· Covering an Olympics is an extraordinary undertaking for any television company.
WORD SETSasphyxia, nounautopsy, nounbarrow, nounbequeath, verbbereaved, adjectivebereavement, nounbier, nounbody bag, nounbody count, nounburial, nounbury, verbcasket, nouncatacomb, nouncatafalque, nouncemetery, nouncenotaph, nouncharnel house, nounchurchyard, nouncoffin, nouncommittal, nouncondolence, nouncoroner, nouncorpse, nouncortege, nouncot death, nouncremate, verbcrematorium, nouncrib death, nouncrucifixion, nouncrucify, verbcrypt, noundeath mask, noundemise, noundeparted, adjectiveD.O.A., adjectivedrown, verbembalm, verbend, nounepitaph, nouneulogy, nounexhume, verbexpire, verbfatality, nounfuneral, nounfunerary, adjectivefunereal, adjectivegrave, noungravedigger, noungravestone, noungraveyard, nounheadstone, nounhearse, nounhospice, nouninter, verbinterment, nounmausoleum, nounmorgue, nounmortality, nounmortician, nounmortuary, nounmortuary, adjectivemourner, nounmourning, nounmummify, verbmummy, nounnecrophilia, nounobsequies, nounpall, nounpallbearer, nounpassing, nounperish, verbplot, nounprobate, nounprobate, verbpyre, nounquietus, nounremains, nounrest, verbrigor mortis, nounRIP, rise, verbsarcophagus, nounsepulchre, nounshroud, nounthrenody, nountoll, nountomb, nountombstone, nountumulus, nounundertaker, nounundertaking, nounurn, nounvault, nounwake, nounwar memorial, nounwill, nounwinding sheet, nounwreath, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Both organizations gave an undertaking to curb violence among their members.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
Both organizations gave an undertaking to curb violence among their members.· Details of the Company's principal subsidiary and associated undertakings are set out on page 47.· On consolidation, the assets and liabilities of overseas subsidiary and associated undertakings are translated at the completion rate of exchange.· Profit on sale of investment in associated undertaking 8.
· The reply came from an under-secretary who said that the present funding was considered adequate and the commercial undertaking would be ill-advised.· Many commercial undertakings failed owing to high energy costs, technical problems or poor acceptability.· So on 4 January 1982 the railway's commercial undertaking was divided into its separate elements.· I do not find the dock company has operated or operates the port other than as a normal commercial undertaking.
· If the supplier is on an equal footing with the buyer there will be no implied undertaking.· In short, therefore, public interest immunity arises as an issue ancillary to the implied undertaking.
· Prior to nationalisation many of the larger undertakings had been vertically integrated, both generating power and distributing and selling it.
· This is a major undertaking and constitutes a special project in terms of budgeting, staffing and timing.· He had managed to complete what was a major undertaking and the thing is, he had made it absolutely superbly.· Two major undertakings of the museum were the dismantling, transportation and rebuilding of a barn and a cottage from nearby locations.· Such an assessment would be a major undertaking.· Revision of coaching awards represents a major undertaking for a governing body.
· The following are the principal differences: Relevant subsidiary undertakings joining the group are accounted for on the acquisition basis.
· Before his resignation he had secured written undertakings from a number of parties stating that they would support his re-appointment.· Before his release he was made to sign a written undertaking that he would not use religious groups for political ends.· Adopt and record a written plan for undertaking internal reviews which states the frequency of reviews.
NOUN· The purchaser should be prepared to sign a target's confidentiality undertaking.· The vendor is likely to agree to the target's providing this information only if the purchaser enters into a confidentiality undertaking.
· Large numbers of voluntary agencies also have a research function, sponsoring or undertaking research into needs.· The certificate modules have been specifically designed to support teachers undertaking research in their own schools.· He is currently undertaking research into batting techniques against fast bowling.· Textbooks on research methods rarely mention the problems that arise when undertaking research on controversial topics or conducting it in sensitive locations.· However the main services are covered and it gives an idea of facilities and help available to teachers when undertaking research.
VERB· Through the Office of Fair Trading he has now accepted the board's undertaking.
· Mr. McLoughlin I give the undertaking that I will meet any delegation that my hon. Friend wishes to bring to me.· Paul had given public undertakings on national radio and television that it would.· Parry gave an undertaking that pay television would not be introduced next season.· Mr. Baker Yes, I shall certainly give that undertaking.· Mr. Redwood I give that undertaking.· Such undertaking may be given orally or in writing, though a solicitor can never be compelled to give an undertaking.· Coaches are generally asked to give an undertaking that their entries all comply with age ceilings.
· Quality standards require undertakings to be monitored and visible.· It can require the undertaking concerned to provide all necessary information and all relevant documentation in its possession.
· Usually the most that governments have been prepared to do is to publicise their activities and/or to seek voluntary undertakings.
· If a separate confidentiality agreement has not been signed an appropriate undertaking can be embodied in the heads.· He was not released until he had been forced to sign an undertaking not to bring any charge against his aggressors.· Before his release he was made to sign a written undertaking that he would not use religious groups for political ends.
WORD FAMILYnounundertakingverbundertake
1[countable usually singular] an important job, piece of work, or activity that you are responsible for: Starting a new business can be a risky undertaking.2[countable] formal a promise to do something: Both organizations gave an undertaking to curb violence among their members.3[uncountable] the business of an undertaker