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

In other words, Charles has a big task on his plate given the uncertainty with on-going Brexit negotiations. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "The Real Reason Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles Haven’t Visited the Royal Baby Yet," 7 May 2019 As if running around the world completing near-impossible tasks in hopes of winning a whopping $1 million wasn't thrilling enough, The Amazing Race is seriously upping the game for the Season 31. — Jennifer Aldrich, Country Living, "'The Amazing Race' Cast Will Include Competitors From 'Big Brother' and 'Survivor'," 14 Apr. 2019 Overall the company hopes to hire about 3,500 seasonal customer service associates heading into the holidays to handle tasks such as placing orders, managing returns, and speaking with retail customers. — Alexis Jones, Woman's Day, "Williams-Sonoma Is Hiring 3,500 Work-From-Home Positions," 28 Aug. 2018 Some have married women who weren’t available for every single task assigned to them. — Michelle Garcia, Glamour, "The First Lady Has a Huge Job. It’s Time She Had a Salary to Match," 3 Apr. 2019 Considering her experience in the industry, and her standing as an American citizen, the Duchess of Sussex is perfect for the task. — Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "Meghan Markle Looks Stunning in a Brandon Maxwell Blush Dress for Her National Theatre Visit," 30 Jan. 2019 But a look at the numbers shows both the urgency and the difficulty of the task. ... — Patricia Kowsmann, WSJ, "How a Merger Between Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank Stacks Up," 25 Mar. 2019 Sometimes, even the most mundane of tasks (putting stamps on envelopes to be sent out) can have a massive impact on the morale of the campaign. — Amanda Mitchell, Marie Claire, "How To Volunteer For A Political Campaign and Change The World," 25 Jan. 2019 These nerve endings allow humans to succeed in the operation of technology and every day tasks. — Carolyn Twersky, Seventeen, "Why Do Couples Hold Hands?," 4 Jan. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Inspired by Susan Sontag's legendary essay on the subject, they were tasked with encompassing all things excessive, over-the-top, kooky, kinky, and—most importantly—witty. — Bridget Read, Vogue, "Your Favorite Celebrities Got Campy and Kooky at the Met Gala on Instagram," 7 May 2019 They'll be tasked with capturing detailed field notes, photos, and keeping up with social media and the Colorfully, BEHR blog. — Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, "Behr Paint Wants To Pay You $10,000 to Travel the World and Name New Paint Colors," 25 Apr. 2019 You'll be tasked with being the bartender for every festivity! — Jennifer Aldrich, Country Living, "Is Starbucks Open on Easter?," 20 Feb. 2019 Piccioli and Chiuri arrived in January and were expecting to work on Valentino’s following fall collection, but the designer tasked them with working on spring instead. — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, "Inside the Private World of Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli," 3 Mar. 2019 Unlike the company’s first game, which has players answer 10 multiple-choice questions to win a share of the prize money, HQ Words tasks them with guessing popular phrases one letter at a time. — Jon Porter, The Verge, "HQ Trivia becomes HQ Trivia & Words as second game exits beta," 24 Dec. 2018 Trump’s administration has deployed more than 5,000 US military troops to the US-Mexico border, at first tasking them with mostly logistical work, and to help fortify the border with barbed wire in light of a migrant caravan from Central America. — Tara Golshan, Vox, "What Trump’s “lethal force” authorization means at the border," 27 Nov. 2018 Panton got his start working for furniture designer Arne Jacobsen and his first major commission came from his father, who owned an inn and tasked him with revamping its restaurant in 1958. — Diana Budds, Curbed, "Inside the maximalist, kaleidoscopic interiors of Verner Panton," 4 Sep. 2018 But he is lured back to the city by a rich man who tasks him with tracking down his daughter—who has been kidnapped without a ransom demand. — Tom Nolan, WSJ, "Mysteries: A Fever Dream of Ransom and Rescue," 23 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

22 May 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