task

noun \ ˈtask \

|Updated on: 20 Jun 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

However, the students who wrote about their emotions, focusing on their feelings before the task, did not share these same shifts in emotions and social perception.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Being Hangry is Real, But You Can Control It," 13 June 2018
His all round influence has been irrepressible at times for Manchester City, and with Eden Hazard alongside him, defences will have a near impossible task in thwarting them.

— SI.com, "7 Players Who Will Smash it at World Cup," 12 June 2018
Over the past few months, Rogers has been entrusted with covering the First Lady’s whereabouts — a particularly challenging task given Melania’s notoriously press-shy office and her penchant for disappearing acts.

— amanda arnold, The Cut, "Talking About the Mysteries of Melania Trump With an NYT Reporter Who Covers Her," 11 June 2018
To assist moms and dads with this mentally draining annual task, two museums in Hartford and Springfield have recruited celebrities who are beloved all over the world: Curious George and Clifford the Big Red Dog.

— susan dunne, courant.com, "Two Summer Exhibits For The Kids: Curious George And Clifford The Big Red Dog," 7 June 2018
The wing plans to fly the plane to France next year for the 75th anniversary of the invasion, a task that will require another round of fundraising — and the hope that some D-Day veterans will still be around to mark the occasion.

— sig christenson, San Antonio Express-News, "Surviving Doolittle Raider flies on restored D-Day plane," 6 June 2018
Keeping all those small, nagging tasks under control makes me more serene, less overwhelmed.

— nina bahadur, SELF, "How Embracing the 1-Minute Rule Made My Life a Million Times Easier," 30 May 2018
Mastering a difficult task—humans are supposed to go across the earth, not up it—is about relinquishing our ordinary selves, our ordinary world.

— josephine livingstone, The New Republic, "Shaking the Tree," 30 May 2018
Since late May, Gemini energy has been highlighting the area of your chart connected to daily tasks, including chores, odd jobs, exercise, and commuting.

— aliza kelly faragher, Allure, "What June's Capricorn Horoscope Means for You," 29 May 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

Mayor Koch called for a Charter Review Commission, tasked with rewriting the city’s de facto Constitution, and asked Frederick A.O. Schwarz, an heir to the former Fifth Avenue toy store, to lead it.

— david freedlander, Daily Intelligencer, "Not That Long Ago, New York City Really Was Run From a Smoke-filled Backroom," 14 June 2018
Juan Pablo Andrade was a policy adviser at America First Policies and America First Action PAC, two outside groups tasked with promoting President Donald Trump's political agenda.

— andrew kaczynski, CNN, "Adviser under fire for pro-Nazi comments 'let go' from pro-Trump groups," 14 June 2018
Between January 2014 and November 2015, the company received Humvees from the Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, located southwest of Bloomington, and was tasked with destroying them at a facility in Spencer, Ind.

— holly v. hays, Indianapolis Star, "2 men face federal charges in scheme to steal Humvees from Indiana naval base," 13 June 2018
Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel on May 17, 2017, and tasked with finding out whether or not members of the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to disrupt the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

— monique judge, The Root, "How Much Does It Cost to Find Out if the Trump Campaign Colluded With the Russians? $17 Million So Far," 31 May 2018
Three detectives are tasked with solving the case, and each man brings a different set of skills to the table.

— scott meslow, GQ, "The engrossing, based-on-a-true-story drama has been hiding on Amazon Prime.," 31 May 2018
Before Game 4 of the Finals, the Dubs went small by putting in the seasoned vet tasked with defending James and the title ended up in the Bay, along with a Finals MVP for Iguodala.

— charles curtis, For The Win, "The Block and The Crotch Punch: The 9 most memorable Cavaliers-Warriors moments," 31 May 2018
When tasked with creating characters for an all-drag girl group, BeBe developed the wild-spirited character and dazzled the judging panel.

— nolan feeney, Billboard, "BeBe Zahara Benet Gets Wild in 'Jungle Kitty' Music Video: Watch," 25 May 2018
But Metro Board Chairman Jack Evans is worrying about what will happen when the panel is tasked with deciding whether to keep early closures past June 2019.

— martine powers, Washington Post, "With quiet formality, Metro continues another year of late-night service cuts," 24 May 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