undertaking
undertaking — noun
1. A large, difficult, or important task, business activity, or project that a pers
A large, difficult, or important task, business activity, or project that a person or organisation commits to carrying out.
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
The company's latest undertaking involves developing solar-powered water pumps for farming communities in West Africa.
Launching a communications satellite into orbit is a complex undertaking that demands years of careful planning.
Ravindra described the archaeological dig as the most rewarding undertaking of his entire academic career.
- 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
文法句型
undertaking + to-infinitive (the project of doing something)
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
2. A formal, often legally binding, promise or agreement to do a specific thing or
A formal, often legally binding, promise or agreement to do a specific thing or to behave in a particular way.
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
The energy company provided a formal undertaking that it would restore the damaged farmland within three years.
Kofi gave an oral undertaking to the judge that he would surrender his passport the following morning.
The contractor broke his undertaking by using substandard materials in the foundation of the new library.
- 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
文法句型
give (someone) an undertaking + to-infinitive
give (someone) an undertaking + that-clause
sign an undertaking
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
3. The act of driving past a slower vehicle on its left side while travelling on a
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.
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.
Cyrus was stopped by the police for undertaking a lorry on the inside lane of the M25 motorway.
Walid was fined two hundred pounds for undertaking a lorry on the inside lane of the M6 near Birmingham.
- overtaking
passing a vehicle on the right (in the UK); the normal, legal manoeuvre
用法筆記
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).
常見錯誤
4. The business or profession of preparing dead bodies for burial or cremation and
The business or profession of preparing dead bodies for burial or cremation and arranging funerals for grieving families.
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
Valentina trained as a funeral director after her uncle's undertaking service helped her family through grief.
Naoko prepared Mr. Tanaka's body for cremation at her Kyoto mortuary and then met his widow to discuss the service.
Putri's grandfather started the undertaking firm in 1952, and she now runs it with her two brothers.
- 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
用法筆記
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.