What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Undertake vs Agree - What's the difference?

undertake | agree |

In intransitive terms the difference between undertake and agree

is that undertake is to commit oneself (to an obligation, activity etc.) while agree is to suit or be adapted in its effects; to do well.

As verbs the difference between undertake and agree

is that undertake is to take upon oneself; to start, to embark on (a specific task etc.) while agree is to harmonize in opinion, statement, or action; to be in unison or concord; to be or become united or consistent; to concur.

undertake

English

Verb

  • (label) To take upon oneself; to start, to embark on (a specific task etc.).
  • *(John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • *:To second, or oppose, or undertake / The perilous attempt.
  • (label) To commit oneself (to an obligation, activity etc.).
  • :
  • *(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • *:I'll undertake to land them on our coast.
  • (label) To overtake on the wrong side.
  • :
  • To pledge; to assert, assure; to dare say.
  • *, Bk.VII:
  • *:"I have now aspyed one knyght," he seyde, "that woll play hys play at the justys, I undirtake ."
  • *(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • *:And those two counties I will undertake / Your grace shall well and quietly enjoiy.
  • *(John Dryden) (1631-1700)
  • *:And he was not right fat, I undertake .
  • * (1665-1728)
  • *:I dare undertake they will not lose their labour.
  • To take by trickery; to trap, to seize upon.
  • *:
  • *:there came fourty knyghtes to sire Darras // So sire Tristram endured there grete payne / for sekenesse had vndertake hym / and that is the grettest payne a prysoner maye haue
  • (label) To assume, as a character; to take on.
  • :(Shakespeare)
  • (label) To engage with; to attack.
  • *(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • *:It is not fit your lordship should undertake every companion that you give offence to.
  • (label) To have knowledge of; to hear.
  • :(Spenser)
  • (label) To have or take charge of.
  • *(Geoffrey Chaucer) (c.1343-1400)
  • *:Keep well those that ye undertake .
  • *(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • *:who undertakes you to your end
  • Usage notes

    * Sense: To commit oneself. This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. * See

    Derived terms

    * undertaker * undertaking

    agree

    English

    Verb

  • To harmonize in opinion, statement, or action; to be in unison or concord; to be or become united or consistent; to concur.
  • all parties agree in the expediency of the law.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1594
  • , author=Thomas Lodge , title=The wounds of civil war: Lively set forth in the true tragedies of Marius and Scilla , page=46 , passage=You know that in so great a state as this, Two mightie foes can never well agree .}}
  • * (rfdate) Shakespeare
  • If music and sweet poetry agree .
  • * (rfdate) Mark xiv. 56.
  • Their witness agreed not together.
  • * (rfdate) Sir T. Browne
  • The more you agree together, the less hurt can your enemies do you.
  • To yield assent; to accede;—followed by to.
  • to agree to an offer, or to opinion.
  • (transitive, UK, Irish) To yield assent to; to approve.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1666
  • , author=Samuel Pepys , title=The Diary of Samuel Pepys , page=88 , passage=... and there, after a good while in discourse, we did agree a bargain of £5,000 with Sir Roger Cuttance for my Lord Sandwich for silk, cinnamon, ...}}
  • * {{quote-book, year=2005
  • , author=Paddy McNutt , title=Law, economics and antitrust: towards a new perspective , page=59 , passage=The essential idea is that parties should enter the market, choose their contractors, set their own terms and agree a bargain.}}
  • * 2011 April 3, John Burke, in The Sunday Business Post :
  • Bishops agree sex abuse rules
  • To make a stipulation by way of settling differences or determining a price; to exchange promises; to come to terms or to a common resolve; to promise.
  • * (rfdate) Matt. v. 25.
  • Agree with thine adversary quickly.
  • * (rfdate) Matt. xx. 13.
  • Didst not thou agree with me for a penny ?
  • To be conformable; to resemble; to coincide; to correspond.
  • the picture does not agree with the original; the two scales agree exactly.
  • To suit or be adapted in its effects; to do well.
  • the same food does not agree with every constitution.
  • (grammar) To correspond to in gender, number, case, or person.
  • (legal) To consent to a contract or to an element of a contract.
  • Usage notes

    * This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See * The transitive usage could be considered as just an omission of to'' or ''upon . * US and Canadian English do not use the transitive form. Thus "they agreed on a price" or "they agreed to the conditions" are used in North America but not "they agreed a price" or "they agreed the conditions".

    Synonyms

    * assent, concur, consent, acquiesce, accede, engage, promise, stipulate, contract, bargain, correspond, harmonize, fit, tally, coincide, comport

    Antonyms

    * disagree

    Derived terms

    * disagree * disagreement

    Statistics

    *