assignment

noun

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as·sign·ment | \ ə-ˈsīn-mənt

Definition of assignment

1 : the act of assigning something the assignment of a task

2a : a position, post, or office to which one is assigned Her assignment was to the embassy in India.

b : a specified task or amount of work assigned or undertaken as if assigned by authority a homework assignment

3 law : the transfer of property especially : the transfer of property to be held in trust or to be used for the benefit of creditors

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about assignment

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Synonyms for assignment

Synonyms

Choose the Right Synonym for assignment

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 assignment in a Sentence

The students were given a homework assignment. The reporter's assignment is to interview the candidate. The reporter is here on an assignment. The reporter is here on assignment. The article discusses the recent assignment of senators to some of the more powerful committees. her assignment to the embassy in India the computer's assignment of a number to each image She asked if she could change her seating assignment.

Recent Examples on the Web Most recently, right-handed reliever John Schreiber — designated for assignment last Friday to make room for outfielder Nomar Mazara — was picked up Thursday by the Boston Red Sox. — Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, "Joe Jimenez has a plan to return as Detroit Tigers' closer: 'Whatever they want me to do'," 18 Feb. 2021 Plenty of others could have been given this assignment. — Elliot Ackerman, Wired, "2034, Part IV: The Spratly Islands Ambush," 16 Feb. 2021 Since Zambrano was not on the 40-man roster, the Rangers had to designate reliever Jimmy Herget for assignment to make room for Sborz. — Evan Grant, Dallas News, "Rangers acquire RHP Josh Sborz from Dodgers," 16 Feb. 2021 At this assignment, there were many families being separated for a month or more to aid areas around the country being hit hard by COVID-19. — Joshua Gunter, cleveland, "cleveland.com photographer Joshua Gunter’s favorite 20 photos from 2020," 25 Dec. 2020 General Ostrowski said this specific assignment was worth delaying his retirement. — Jennifer Steinhauer, New York Times, "Military’s Role in Vaccine Will Be Strictly Behind the Scenes, Despite Trump’s Claims," 26 Nov. 2020 It’s this assignment that reveals Perseus has put into un unknown plan into motion. — Mike Snider, USA TODAY, "'Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War' review: A spy game worthy of your time, regardless of your video game system," 13 Nov. 2020 Accept, too, that this already tough assignment will be tougher now. — Washington Post, "Carolyn Hax: Is my 3-year-old going to be a weird kid? Am I already a weird mom?," 25 Oct. 2020 This first assignment was to drive down to Sequoia National Park with David. — Anand Varma, National Geographic, "Episode 8: How I Learned to Love Zombie Parasites," 4 Aug. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'assignment.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

25 Feb 2021

Cite this Entry

“Assignment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assignment. Accessed 7 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for assignment

assignment

noun

English Language Learners Definition of assignment

: a job or duty that is given to someone : a task someone is required to do

: the act of sending someone to a particular group or place as part of a job

: the act of giving a particular value, identity, etc., to something

See the full definition for assignment in the English Language Learners Dictionary

assignment

noun

as·sign·ment | \ ə-ˈsīn-mənt

Kids Definition of assignment

1 : the act of giving out or assigning the assignment of seats

2 : something (as a job or task) that is given out a homework assignment

assignment

noun

as·sign·ment

Legal Definition of assignment

1 : the act of assigning

2a : a position, post, or office to which one is assigned

b : a task assigned

3 : a present transfer of property or rights

— absolute assignment

: an assignment in which the transfer is complete and leaves the assignor with no interest in the property or right transferred

— assignment for the benefit of creditors

: assignment of property by a debtor to an assignee to be held in trust and used to pay off the debtor's debts

— assignment of income

: an assignment by one taxpayer to another of income for the purpose of avoiding taxes

— assignment of lease

: an assignment by a tenant of all of his or her remaining rights in a property under a lease — compare sublease

— effective assignment

: an assignment by which the assignor's interest in the property or right being assigned is terminated and transferred to the assignee

— equitable assignment

: an assignment (as of property in which one has a future interest) that is not valid at law but that would be upheld in a court of equity

— general assignment

: an assignment for the benefit of creditors of all of a debtor's property to be distributed fairly to the creditors — compare preference

— wage assignment

: an assignment by an employee by which an amount of his or her wages are transferred to another party (as a creditor) before the wages are paid to the employee — compare garnishment

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