Definition of tasknext

task

2 of 2

verb

as in to entrust
to give a task, duty, or responsibility to I have been tasked by the host with bringing the pies for Thanksgiving this year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun task contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of task are assignment, chore, duty, job, and stint. While all these words 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

When can assignment be used instead of task?

The words assignment and task can be used in similar contexts, but assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority.

a reporter's assignment

When might chore be a better fit than task?

While in some cases nearly identical to task, chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm.

every child was assigned chores

When would duty be a good substitute for task?

The meanings of duty and task largely overlap; however, duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

the duties of a lifeguard

Where would job be a reasonable alternative to task?

The synonyms job and task are sometimes interchangeable, but job applies to a piece of work voluntarily performed; it may sometimes suggest difficulty or importance.

the job of turning the company around

In what contexts can stint take the place of task?

While the synonyms stint and task are close in meaning, stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service.

a 2-month stint as a reporter

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of task
Noun
Aside from cooking, tasks include everything from cleaning and maintaining the kitchen to keeping stock fresh. — Jessica Jungbauer, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2026 The constraint of the task encourages a deeper looking, and gives us, part of a society suspicious of aimless activity, an excuse to mess around and explore a strange world. — Joseph Ogilvy, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
Verb
But Jejurikar has been tasked with more than just seeing that effort through. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026 The incoming crop of Senate and House leaders will be tasked with deciding whether to raise taxes, cut benefits or a combination of both to address the program's solvency woes. — Kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea,jessica Dickler,sarah Agostino,greg Iacurci,lorie Konish,annie Nova,sharon Epperson,stephanie Dhue, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for task
Recent Examples of Synonyms for task
Noun
  • Our job, before and after AI, is building safe and useful products for human beings, and engineers are still best suited for that.
    — Brian Jenney, IEEE Spectrum, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The Commission’s sovereignty framework considers the extent to which investment, jobs and value creation remain within the EU and European Economic Area.
    — Margot Edelman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Behind the scenes, Chicago historian and media personality Studs Terkel played an integral role, acting as a guide for Mitchell.
    — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Unusual weather conditions played a role, officials said, with the number of extreme heat warning days tripling from five in 2025 to 15 so far this year.
    — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • In an increasingly complicated world, those entrusted with power seem less able—or willing—than ever to take on the threats that loom.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
  • For a lot of the people at that desk, this is the first job anyone has entrusted them with.
    — Zaharia-Gabriel Sidere, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The schools would share the Final Four administrative duties.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2026
  • In each of the future belligerent countries, elite schools would have long regarded it as their duty to instill in their pupils, the officer class in the making, a martial spirit.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Its purpose is to help eliminate malignant cells that may remain after surgery, reducing the chance of another tumor taking hold.
    — Mike McRae October 25, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The decor nods to her career without losing sight of the hotel’s purpose as a place to unwind after a day exploring Music City.
    — Tracey Teo, AJC.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Police charged 52-year-old Mooresville resident Rod Moskowitz with assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, court records show.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
  • And one health care consultancy that finds doctors and mental health care for wealthy families charges retainers starting at $30,000 for 50 hours.
    — Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • As the exhausting history of credit-card fraud and data breaches suggests, too many sites and merchants still don’t understand their assignment.
    — Rob Pegoraro, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In September, Anthropic updated Claude to combine chat with Cowork and keep working on assignments after users closed their laptops.
    — Wen Shao, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • To make the critical materials list, a nonfuel mineral element or substance must serve an essential function in one or more energy technologies and there must be a high risk of disruption to the supply chain.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • What matters for the trade is what happens once the same recursion moves out of engineering and into every other function.
    — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Task.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/task. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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