UNDERTOOK Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

undertook

verb

past tense of undertake

as in assumed

to take to or upon oneself undertook the responsibility of raising the orphaned children as their own

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of undertook The apartment’s current owner, Adam Zoia, an executive in the recruiting industry, bought the apartment in 2021 and later undertook a two-year renovation. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 Over three and a half years, Vervoordt’s team, alongside regional Swiss firm Comina Architecture, undertook a meticulous renovation of the nearly 10,000-square-foot property. — Michael James Gardner, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2026 Later, after the destruction of the Jewish Temple, Christians under Roman persecution quietly undertook spiritual journeys to places mentioned in the Gospels. — Shay Rabineau, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026 Wernham pointed to a similar upheaval in 2023, when states undertook a massive process to redetermine the eligibility of all Medicaid enrollees, after regular eligibility checks were paused during the pandemic. — Aaron Bolton, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026 Wudang’s palaces and temples flourished during the Ming dynasty, when Emperor Zhu Di undertook a major building campaign to align his imperial regime with Taoism. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026 The financier undertook a campaign to launder his reputation, spending millions — especially donating to scientific research projects — to rehabilitate his image. — Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026 As Fernandes undertook his trademark run-up, Tielemans mirrored him exactly, sidestepping and stuttering in synchronisation. — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 The American military undertook fresh strikes against Iran, hitting air defense and radar system targets. — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for undertook

Verb

Bloomsbury Publishing, which assumed control of the book after merging with Bourne’s previous publisher, returned the rights to the author.

— Zac Ntim, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Industry Has Already Faced This Problem Industrial automation has never assumed that instruments, controllers or operators will always behave correctly.

— Gregory Shahnovsky, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of assumed

Verb

Harris accepted, then asked to co-write the screenplay despite never having tackled a feature script.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Araiza had already punted, but the Raiders accepted the penalty and pushed the Chiefs back into a fourth-and-9.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of accepted

Verb

Naomi Ackie, who plays the scientist charged with Hagen’s experimental procedure, praised how her co-star shouldered what was a very challenging role.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
The writers’ stories, set in vastly different places, converge around the unique responsibilities shouldered by women.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of shouldered

Browse Nearby Words

undertones

undertook

undertow

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Undertook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undertook. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of undertook

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes