task

\ ˈtask

How to pronounce task (audio)

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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

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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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

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 The Great relies on this interpretation of Peter, played by Nicholas Hoult (also of The Favourite), who is openly obnoxious about having an affair with his best friend’s wife, forces his advisers to do ridiculous tasks and orders murders on impulse. — Suyin Haynes, Time, "The Great Is Only 'Occasionally' True. But These Aspects of Hulu's Catherine the Great Series Are Based in History," 15 May 2020 All members take part in routine tasks like cleaning and community cooking. — Pradeep Tomar, Quartz India, "Indian scientists in Antarctica are under their own version of a lockdown," 13 May 2020 The billionaire has a reputation as a workaholic who arranges his own schedule and directly calls government officials at odd hours with tasks. — Andrea Dudik, Bloomberg.com, "One Billionaire Leader Is Having a Good Virus Crisis," 13 May 2020 The Perseverance rover will attempt to detect if there is any fossilized evidence of extraterrestrial beings, in addition to other tasks. — Fox News, "Martian rock samples could bring extraterrestrial viruses to Earth, expert warns," 12 May 2020 Shah, whose company FYI helps with cloud collaboration tasks like finding documents, told me. — Washington Post, "The Technology 202: Remote work could be here to stay for some tech workers," 12 May 2020 That rate can spike to 50 for some who try simple tasks like brushing teeth and combing hair. — Marc Lester, Anchorage Daily News, "What has it been like to care for COVID-19-sickened patients in Anchorage? Two nurses share their experiences.," 9 May 2020 For tasks such as testing drug reactions or modifying DNA, scientists must first breach protective cell walls. — Sophie Bushwick, Scientific American, "DIY Tool Lets High Schoolers Practice Gene Editing," 7 May 2020 But the Raspberry Pi is much more powerful, with an onboard operating system and the ability to do more sophisticated tasks with more variety. — Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, "The LEGO Microscope That's Capturing IBM Research," 6 May 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb She’ll be tasked with heading up the combination alongside Chief Merchandising Officer Scott McCall. — Matthew Boyle, Bloomberg.com, "Walmart Fuses Buying Teams to Cut Down on Cross-Company Red Tape," 15 May 2020 Players will be tasked with forging allegiances with kings and Vikings, and staging raids and attacks on large settlements. — Los Angeles Times, "What Microsoft’s Xbox Series X preview does and doesn’t tell us about the future of gaming," 7 May 2020 While working from home, agents will be tasked with assisting clients over the phone and hitting sales goals. — Jason Duaine Hahn, PEOPLE.com, "Work-from-Home Jobs You Can Apply for Right Now," 1 May 2020 In addition to looking after the physical health issues of their students, district nurses will be tasked with more emotional and social issues afflicting kids as a result of pandemic and subsequent quarantine. — Carissa Lamkahouan, Houston Chronicle, "Outreach to kids keeping Pasadena ISD nurses busy," 29 Apr. 2020 The order takes effect at 8 p.m. Friday to allow people time to obtain masks or cloth coverings to follow the new rules, Cuomo said, adding local authorities will be tasked with enforcing the mandate. — Jessica Flores, USA TODAY, "Coronavirus live updates: Trump set to unveil guidelines for reopening economy amid protests; US deaths near 31K," 17 Apr. 2020 Ultimately, Ohio lawmakers will be tasked with finding a solution. — Sarah Brookbank, Cincinnati.com, "Coronavirus in Ohio, Kentucky: IRS direct deposit, reopening, protests," 16 Apr. 2020 Now Farda will once again be tasked with winning at a program that hasn’t seen a lot of it recently. — Joseph Hoyt, Dallas News, "Carrollton R.L. Turner hires Mike Farda Jr. as its next football coach," 15 Apr. 2020 Tretter will now be tasked with unifying a union in which almost half of the members voted against the new deal. — cleveland, "Browns JC Tretter, president of the NFLPA, urges unity after CBA ratified by slim margin," 15 Mar. 2020

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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Learn More about task

Dictionary Entries near task

task-and-bonus system

Statistics for task

Last Updated

21 May 2020

Cite this Entry

“Task.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/task. Accessed 3 Jun. 2020.

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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

\ ˈtask

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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

Choose the Right Synonym for 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.

task

\ ˈtask

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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

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