task

play

noun \ˈtask\

Definition of task

1a : a usually assigned piece of work often to be finished within a certain timeb : something hard or unpleasant that has to be donec : 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

And material reconstruction is only part of the task.

— The Economist, "Islamic State nears its end", 5 July 2017
At first, routine tasks were a struggle: Rolling up to get out of bed, brushing his teeth, getting dressed.

— pat graham, The Seattle Times, "After accident, Olympian Nieto wants to walk for his wedding", 4 July 2017
Everyday fatherly tasks, like playing with Legos or blocks with Esther, annoy him more than charm him, though in the end his love for her is a key part of what fuels the climactic tension.

— john williams, New York Times, "A Brief but Potent Scare in ‘You Should Have Left’", 3 July 2017
As Donald Trump has faced criticism for his policies and his remarks about marginalized groups, many have taken Ivanka Trump to task for her silence on these matters.

— suzannah weiss, Teen Vogue, "Ivanka Trump Says She Tries Not to Give Her Dad Her Opinion", 3 July 2017
The sheer volume of them makes that a nearly impossible task.

— danielle lerner, The Courier-Journal, "For Louisville's Dale Romans, Churchill Downs success has been decades in the making", 1 July 2017
The task requires pressure and time and, in this case, the 32-ounce hammer of Perez, the Royals’ All-Star catcher.

— rustin dodd, kansascity.com, "Royals erase deficit and power past Twins in 11-6 victory", 1 July 2017
SPCA/Humane Society of Prince George’s County, an all-volunteer organization, needs volunteers 18 and older to assist in a variety of tasks.

— Washington Post, "Prince George’s County Animal Watch", 27 June 2017
Democratic Chairman Bill Hollander and Vice Chairwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton, who conducted the investigation, also took Johnson to task for his use of social media in the aftermath of the June 7 incident at Wyandotte Park.

— phillip m. bailey, The Courier-Journal, "Top Democrats want Dan Johnson kicked out, investigation shows", 23 June 2017

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!

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

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.

First Known Use of task

14th century

TASK Defined for English Language Learners

task

play

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

play

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

Medical Dictionary

task

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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