undertake

I

(Roget's IV) v.

Syn. endeavor, engage, set out, promise, try out, try, begin, commence, offer, set in motion, volunteer, initiate, commit oneself to, embark upon, venture, take upon oneself, answer for, hazard, stake, move, devote oneself to, pledge oneself to, shoulder, take up for, take on, set about, go into, go about, go in for, put one's hand to, have one's hands in, have in hand, launch into, launch forth, address oneself to, enter on or upon, busy oneself with, tackle*, pitch into*, fall into*, buckle to*, take on*, take the plunge*, fall to*, have a try at*, go for in a big way*.

II

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) v.

take on, enter into, assume, tackle, make a commitment, engage in, endeavor, venture, shoulder, promise, pledge, contract.

ANT.: avoid, shun, reject

III

(Roget's Thesaurus II) verb 1. To take upon oneself: assume, incur, shoulder, tackle, take on, take over. See ACCEPT. 2. To assume an obligation: contract, engage, pledge, promise. See AGREE, OBLIGATION. 3. To go about the initial step in doing (something): approach, begin, commence, embark, enter, get off, inaugurate, initiate, institute, launch, lead off, open, set about, set out, set to, start, take on, take up. Informal: kick off. Idioms: get cracking, get going, get the show on the road. See START.