undertaking
Task one commits
An undertaking is a task, project, or enterprise that someone commits to doing.
The word emphasizes the seriousness of the commitment—an undertaking is not casual but involves dedication and often considerable effort: Renovating that old house was quite an undertaking.
In legal contexts, an undertaking is a formal pledge or guarantee.
The word also refers to the funeral business, where an undertaker prepares the dead for burial, though this sense has become old-fashioned in favor of "funeral director."
Work to be done
- endeavorPurposeful sustained attempt
- initiativeSelf-directed action capacity
- effortApplied energy toward goals
- enterpriseCommercial undertaking or initiative
venture · operation · assignment · work · scheme · plan · campaign · pursuit
Binding promise given
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
- guaranteeFormal promise of fulfillment
- assuranceFirm promise or certainty
- vowSolemn personal commitment
oath · word · covenant · agreement · bond · obligation · warranty · contract
Possibility of harm
- endeavorPurposeful sustained attempt
- effortApplied energy toward goals
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- trialJudicial examination of claims
ordeal · test · difficulty · hardship · obstacle · adventure · quest · exploit
Service honoring the dead
- intermentPutting a body underground
- graveSerious and worrying
- cemeteryPlace for interring remains
- coffinBurial container for remains
tomb · mortuary · hearse · eulogy · cremation · embalming · shroud · casket
Commercial undertaking or initiative
- firmSolid or resolute
- companyCommercial enterprise or guests
- ventureRisky new undertaking
- concernTroubled interest in something
operation · establishment · outfit · startup · corporation · partnership · franchise · entrepreneurship
task
Work to be done
- endeavorPurposeful sustained attempt
- initiativeSelf-directed action capacity
- effortApplied energy toward goals
enterprise · venture · operation · assignment · work · scheme · plan · campaign · pursuit · activity
pledge
Binding promise given
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
- guaranteeFormal promise of fulfillment
- assuranceFirm promise or certainty
vow · oath · word · covenant · agreement · bond · obligation · warranty · contract · declaration
risk
Possibility of harm
- endeavorPurposeful sustained attempt
- effortApplied energy toward goals
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
trial · ordeal · test · difficulty · hardship · obstacle · adventure · quest · exploit · feat
funeral
Service honoring the dead
coffin · tomb · mortuary · hearse · eulogy · cremation · embalming · shroud · casket · pallbearer
enterprise
Commercial undertaking or initiative
concern · operation · establishment · outfit · startup · corporation · partnership · franchise · entrepreneurship · industry
- dutiesduty, task, obligation, moral obligation, responsibility
- endeavorsendeavor, effort, venture, enterprise, attempt
- projectsproject, projects, tasks, milestones, deadlines
- challengeschallenge, difficult, hard, challenging, tough
- effortstrying, striving, endeavoring, struggling, pushing
- handlingdealing with, handling, managing, coping, addressing
undertakingabandonment
Act of leaving permanently
withdrawal · forfeit · surrender · relinquishment · giving up