task

noun \ ˈtask \

|Updated on: 18 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: task in a Sentence

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

Most assume the causes are long hours, intrusive information technology, task overload, interpersonal conflicts and poor self-care.

— philip chard, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Burnout reflects a conflict between our inner calling and what we have to do," 13 July 2018
Much of the debate over firefighting’s aggressive culture centers on the one task that firefighters spend the least time doing, but that is unquestionably the most dangerous part of their jobs: battling structure fires.

— mike hendricks, kansascity, "Fire departments fight a culture that saves — and costs — lives," 13 July 2018
The consumer segment, Ms. Kitagawa said, remains challenged as smartphones continue to gain ground in daily tasks from shopping to using social media.

— maria armental, WSJ, "PC Shipments Have Strongest Quarter in Six Years," 12 July 2018
From a user perspective, the third-party services will integrate with Photos and handle the same tasks.

— emily price, Fortune, "Apple Is Getting Rid of Its Photo Printing Service," 12 July 2018
One of Wilcox’s first tasks was making the case for a $922 million school bond package, the largest in CMS history.

— ann doss helms, charlotteobserver, "Quiet agitator at CMS prepares to rattle some cages in his second year," 12 July 2018
Corey tasks included posting departmental information to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and other social media accounts.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Putnam-Killingly Edition," 10 July 2018
But with the regressive policies of the Other Washington, the task falls imperfectly to states, other countries and enlightened corporations.

— jon talton, The Seattle Times, "Starbucks ditches straws, but our plastic addiction is much bigger," 10 July 2018
But in recent months, Mattis' task has grown more arduous.

— missy ryan, greg jaffe, Anchorage Daily News, "At summit, Mattis faces uphill battle," 10 July 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

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

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

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

The gown—which was first worn by Queen Victoria's daughter—was officially declared too delicate ahead of the christening of James, Viscount Severn, so the Queen's dressmaker and assistant Angela Kelly was tasked with creating a replica.

— ruby buddemeyer, Marie Claire, "Here's How Prince Louis' Christening Compares to George and Charlotte's," 9 July 2018
At that point, the developer owned just nine parcels of the 320 it is tasked with renovating.

— joe guillen, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit's showcase neighborhood project falls a year behind schedule," 3 July 2018
McGuire was tasked with taking the body from the crash scene to a funeral home, WFMJ reported.

— crystal hill, miamiherald, "Paramedic took money from dead man’s pocket, cops say. But someone was watching.," 3 July 2018
Some placating was definitely in order: the same emissaries sent to inform the Hungarian crown of their adorable new family member were also tasked with negotiating Joanna’s way out of certain clauses in her nuptial treaty.

— anne thériault, Longreads, "Queens of Infamy: Joanna of Naples," 3 July 2018
On Monday, Porcello was tasked with facing one of the game’s best pitchers in the Nationals’ Max Scherzer, and the ESPN crew didn’t give Porcello much of a chance.

— andrew joseph, For The Win, "ESPN crew mocks Rick Porcello's hitting right before he rips a 3-run double," 2 July 2018
At a recent Harvard Law School panel about pay equity, Attorney General Maura Healey, whose office is tasked with enforcing the new state law, noted that companies shouldn’t just stop at adjusting payrolls and eliminating salary history questions.

— katie johnston, BostonGlobe.com, "As gender pay law kicks in, companies scrutinize wages," 30 June 2018
Firing an officer, however, requires approval from the seven-member merit board, which is tasked with civilian oversight.

— james briggs, Indianapolis Star, "Mayor Joe Hogsett backs off call for change to panel that reinstated officers who shot Aaron Bailey," 28 June 2018
The previous shoot is then immediately rendered irrelevant when the girls are tasked with a high-end Pantene editorial.

— joey guerra, Houston Chronicle, "'America's Next Top Model' recap: The case of the blonde wig," 4 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of task

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

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