task

1 of 2

noun

ˈtask How to pronounce task (audio)
plural tasks
Synonyms of task
1
a
: a usually assigned piece of work often to be finished within a certain time
b
: something hard or unpleasant that has to be done
c
: duty, function
2
: subjection to adverse criticism : reprimand
… the state government was called to task for not doing more to help the area around the casinos.—Stephanie Powers
In the NFL, coaches often aren't brought to task for their worst decisions even after games.—Rodger Sherman
see also take to task

task

2 of 2

verb

tasked; tasking; tasks

transitive verb

1
: to assign a task to
employees tasked with updating the files
2
: to oppress with great labor
tasks his mind with petty details
3
obsolete : to impose a tax on

Synonyms of task

Relevance

Noun

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for task

task, duty, job, chore, stint, assignment mean a piece of work to be done.

task implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance.

charged with a variety of tasks

duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

the duties of a lifeguard

job applies to a piece of work voluntarily performed; it may sometimes suggest difficulty or importance.

the job of turning the company around

chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm.

every child was assigned chores

stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service.

a 2-month stint as a reporter

assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority.

a reporter's assignment

Examples of task in a Sentence

Noun Our first task is to review the budget. one of my tasks in the morning is to make lunches for everyone in the family Verb I have been tasked by the host with bringing the pies for Thanksgiving this year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The future of work demands flexibility in *when* tasks are completed, not just *where*, to truly unlock employee potential. — Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026 Perhaps the Codex Micro’s most interesting feature is a rotary dial that lets the user adjust the agent’s reasoning level depending on the difficulty of the task. — New Atlas, 25 July 2026
Verb
Turning the tide Klopp will be tasked with getting Germany back among the world’s best international teams. — Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 24 July 2026 Even if many of the parties form coalitions as the electoral law encourages, the electoral council is still tasked with vetting, accrediting and overseeing potentially thousands of election day monitors while ensuring the integrity of the vote. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for task

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English taske, from Middle French dialect (Picardy, Flanders) tasque, from Medieval Latin tasca tax or service imposed by a feudal superior, alteration of *taxa, from taxare to tax

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of task was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing task

Rhymes for task

See All Rhymes for task

Browse Nearby Words

Tasikmalaya
task
task-and-bonus system
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Task.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/task. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

task

noun
ˈtask
: a piece of assigned work

Medical Definition

task

noun
ˈtask How to pronounce task (audio)
: the performance that is required of the subject in a psychological experiment or test and that is usually communicated to a human subject by verbal instructions

More from Merriam-Webster on task

Nglish: Translation of task for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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