task

noun

\ ˈtask

Definition of task

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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 —used in the expressions to take, call, or bring to task

task

verb

tasked; tasking; tasks

Definition of task (Entry 2 of 2)

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 Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about task

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Synonyms for task

Synonyms: Noun

assignment, chore, duty, job

Synonyms: Verb

assign, charge, commission, entrust (also intrust), trust

Choose the Right Synonym for task

Noun

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

Noun

task, duty, and job mean a piece of work assigned or to be done. task is used for work given by a person in a position of authority. The boss used to give me every difficult task. duty is used when a person has responsibility to do the work. The duty of police is to protect people. job may mean that the work is necessary, hard, or important. We all have to do our job.

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: Noun

There are no straightforward tasks, and no objectives on the map to follow. — Hayden Dingman, PCWorld, "This week in games: New Dune games, Phoenix Wright on PC, and Borderlands 3 rumors," 1 Mar. 2019 Pendant lights over the island, sink, or eat-in table can double as task light and a design element. — Jessica Dailey, Good Housekeeping, "Ambient, task, or accent? How to choose your kitchen's lighting system.," 11 Feb. 2019 Although these shuttles might feel more theme-park ride than transit solution, these slow-motion minibuses are performing an important task by introducing people to the idea of driverless tech. — Alissa Walker, Curbed, "The good, the bad, and the ugly of self-driving cars in 2018," 27 Dec. 2018 Members of the royal family usually utilize their staff for tasks such as speech writing, but not Meghan Markle, according to a new documentary. — Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "Meghan Markle Writes Her Own Speeches, Which is Unusual for Members of the Royal Family," 21 Nov. 2018 Other tasks for Zabel included looking at the quality of the harvest, picking up microbiological samples and checking on the systems (light, temperature regulation, and air supply enriched by nutrients and carbon dioxide). — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, "Antarctica Greenhouse Produces Cucumbers, Tomatoes and More in Mars-Like Test," 24 Sep. 2018 The only question is whether the Go, which runs on a less-powerful processor than the Pro, will have the muscle to run intensive tasks like video editing. — Brad Rickman, Condé Nast Traveler, "Microsoft Surface Go: The New Tablet That We've Been Dreaming of Forever," 17 July 2018 To sideline him, Greenwood proposed what seemed a thankless task: reviewing Britain’s social-insurance schemes. — The Economist, "The welfare state needs updating," 12 July 2018 The sub wasn’t quite what was needed for the task, and the team escaped the cave anyway. — Emily Price, Fortune, "Elon Musk Says on Twitter He'll Pay to Fix Flint, Michigan Homes With Contaminated Water," 11 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Sweterlitsch opens in the 20th-century with a time-traveling NCIS agent named Shannon Moss who is tasked with investigating a particularly gruesome murder. — Andrew Liptak, The Verge, "Our favorite science fiction and fantasy books of 2018," 21 Dec. 2018 At various times, Lasseter had minders who were tasked with reining in his impulses. — Gene Maddaus, chicagotribune.com, "John Lasseter will exit Disney at the end of the year," 11 June 2018 It was spotted by an array of small telescopes tasked with finding and observing faint objects. — Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, "Talk amongst yourselves: 2018’s most-commented stories on Ars," 24 Dec. 2018 Of course, a small satellite could intercept such a signal, so to combat a spy sat network could mean developing a rival constellation tasked with hunting their signals. — Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "Space Junk Could Provide a Perfect Hiding Spot for Tiny Spy Satellites," 30 Nov. 2018 In the Hallmark movie, which premieres on Saturday, November 10, LeAnn plays Eve Morgan, a musically gifted superintendent tasked with overhauling her high school's music department. — Jessica Leigh Mattern, Country Living, "Hallmark's New Christmas Soundtrack Featuring LeAnn Rimes Will Make You Want to Jingle Bell Rock," 11 Oct. 2018 Like most very famous people, the British royals have bodyguards tasked with keeping them safe. — Kayleigh Roberts, Marie Claire, "These Are the Secret Code Names Bodyguards Use for Prince Harry, Meghan Meghan Markle, Prince William, and Kate Middleton," 16 Sep. 2018 Here’s my question: Why, out of all the reporters at CBS, were Duncan and O’Donnell the ones tasked with reporting the bad behavior of their male co-workers? — Abigail Libers, Glamour, "I’m Sick of Female Journalists Cleaning Up the Messes Their Male Co-Workers Made," 14 Sep. 2018 Days after the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944, Prince Michel was part of a three-man sabotage team tasked with preventing 23,000 German troops from getting to Normandy, the Washington Post notes. — Maggie Maloney, Town & Country, "Prince Philip’s Cousin Was a Paratrooper Who Helped Liberate France From the Nazis," 20 Aug. 2018

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

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Dictionary Entries near task

task-and-bonus system

task bar

tasker

Statistics for task

Last Updated

13 Mar 2019

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Time Traveler for task

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

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More Definitions for task

task

noun

English Language Learners Definition of task

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a piece of work that has been given to someone : a job for someone to do

task

verb

English Language Learners Definition of task (Entry 2 of 2)

: to assign (someone) a piece of work : to give (someone) a job to do

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

task

noun

\ ˈtask

Kids Definition of task

: a piece of work that has been assigned, needs to be done, or presents a challenge On Saturdays Claudia emptied the wastebaskets, a task she despised.— E. L. Konigsburg, Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

task

noun

\ ˈtask

Medical Definition of task

: 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