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Undertake vs Fulfil - What's the difference?

undertake | fulfil |

As verbs the difference between undertake and fulfil

is that undertake is (label) to take upon oneself; to start, to embark on (a specific task etc) while fulfil is (archaic) to fill up.

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

    fulfil

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (US)

    Verb

    (fulfill)
  • (archaic) To fill up.
    • My lady is positively fulfilled of grace.
  • * 1870 , James Thomson,
    • The silence which benumbs or strains the sense
    Fulfils with awe the soul's despair unweeping
  • To satisfy, carry out, bring to completion (an obligation, a requirement, etc.).
    • You made a promise, son, and now you must fulfil it.
  • To emotionally or artistically satisfy; to develop one's gifts to the fullest.
    • This job fulfils me in a way my last one never did.
  • To obey, follow, comply with (a rule, requirement etc.).
    • Unfortunately, you don't fulfil the criteria for extra grants at the present time.

    Derived terms

    * (UK) - fulfilment, fulfilled, fulfilling, fulfillable * unfulfilled