task

noun \ ˈtask \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition 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 —used in the expressions to take, call, or bring to task

See task defined for English-language learners

See task defined for kids

Examples of task in a Sentence

Our first task is to review the budget.
one of my tasks in the morning is to make lunches for everyone in the family

Recent Examples of task from the Web

Among his first tasks in building the Twisted Road idea into a company was polling.

— charles fleming, latimes.com, "Sharing startup Twisted Road wants to be the Airbnb for motorcycles," 5 Apr. 2018
And despite Barcelona now visiting the Stadio Olimpico next week with a two goal advantage, the Spanish champions-elect will be wary their task is not complete yet, having never claimed victory against their opponents in Rome previously.

— SI.com, "Barcelona 4-1 Roma: Fortunate Barca Take Leap Towards Semi Final After Duo of Giallorossi Own Goals," 4 Apr. 2018
Unplugging from work has become increasingly difficult in an era when the office, and all its myriad tasks, are literally a keyboard click away.

— charisse jones, USA TODAY, "Blow off your boss' emails when off the clock? It may happen in N.Y.," 3 Apr. 2018
Their next task: find some way to slow Villanova's 3-ball roll.

— creg stephenson, AL.com, "Michigan vs. Villanova live stream, live score updates; March Madness 2018," 2 Apr. 2018
Their next task: Find some way to slow Villanova's 3-ball roll.

— CBS News, "Villanova and Michigan head to NCAA national title game," 1 Apr. 2018
Building a Baseline For Muneza, his first task was scouring previous giraffe studies for any reference to the telltale signs of the disease: those lesions that sometimes ooze blood or pus.

— robert montgomery, National Geographic, "Mysterious Giraffe Disease Has Scientists Baffled," 30 Mar. 2018
Among his tasks was to repair the football equipment, including the helmets.

— tod leonard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Six years after Junior Seau's death, sister keeps his wish to raise brain trauma awareness," 30 Mar. 2018
Our principal task is to define that choice and to press for a national resolution.

— vanessa bee, Daily Intelligencer, "How We Can Get a More Equal Union," 27 Mar. 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.

Origin and Etymology of task

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

task Synonyms

Synonyms

business, capacity, function, job, part, place, position, purpose, role (also rôle), work;

niche, office, post, situation;

calling, occupation, pursuit, vocation;

activity, assignment, charge, commission, duty, employ, mission, responsibility, service, use;

Synonym Discussion of 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

task

verb

Definition of task

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

See task defined for English-language learners

Examples of task in a Sentence

I have been tasked by the host with bringing the pies for Thanksgiving this year.

Recent Examples of task from the Web

Tales of chaos within the U.K. government are hardly new, but today the Brexit-supporting Daily Telegraph reports that there are troubles in the key departments tasked with managing EU withdrawal.

— robert hutton, Bloomberg.com, "Brexit Bulletin: Brexit Fever," 4 Apr. 2018
Righty Drew VerHagen, tasked with the eighth inning, allowed a single and walk.

— anthony fenech, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Tigers fall to Pittsburgh Pirates, 13-10, on marathon Opening Day," 30 Mar. 2018
There also were too few supervisors to adequately oversee the work of the men and women tasked with responding to crimes involving some of city's most vulnerable victims, according to the interviews.

— rachel dissell, cleveland.com, "Cleveland police probe raises questions about staffing, supervision of special victims units," 25 Mar. 2018
Richburg will help fortify an offensive line tasked with protecting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

— steve gardner, USA TODAY, "Report: 49ers continue spending spree by adding center Weston Richburg," 14 Mar. 2018
By Benjamin Sutherland Intelligence agencies tasked with profiling the terrorist mind, and figuring out where future extremists might be found, have begun focusing on a surprising target: science students.

— Newsweek, "Amazing Photos of Bioluminescent Phytoplankton," 14 Mar. 2018
That green mentality recently challenged engineers tasked with the design and construction of a new six lane bypass running 21km (more than 13 miles) north to south along the rapidly expanding city's western edge.

— william steel, Ars Technica, "An inside look at how Sweden is building the world’s second-longest tunnel," 10 Mar. 2018
Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson has asked the Legislature for $166,000 to hire a staffer tasked with combating election hacking activities by the Russian government.

— gordon r. friedman, OregonLive.com, "Dennis Richardson seeks staff to combat Russia meddling in Oregon elections," 27 Feb. 2018
But a coach taking a bribe destroys trust in a university, trust in those tasked with upholding the sanctity of amateur athletics, and most important, trust players and families have placed in coaches to work in their best interest.

— chris white, The Courier-Journal, "Think paying players is making a mess of college basketball? Wait until coaches are named," 24 Feb. 2018

First Known Use of task

14th century

task Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Related Words

confer, impose;

commit, confide, consign, delegate, recommend, relegate, repose;

allocate, allot;

authorize, empower, invest;

TASK Defined for English Language Learners

task

noun

Definition of task for English Language Learners

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

task

verb

Definition of task for English Language Learners

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

TASK Defined for Kids

task

noun \ ˈtask \

Definition of task for Students

: 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

Synonym Discussion of task

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.

Medical Dictionary

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