task 1 of 2

task

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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
The app helps users who are blind or have low vision by providing visual descriptions of daily tasks such as navigating unfamiliar surroundings and explaining the color of an object. Paulina Czupryna, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025 Trying to explain away a difficult play or a bad performance for some time while the storm is upon us is not an easy task to navigate or deal with and remain cool, calm and collected. Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
Many cultures have felt tasked with the problem of restoring some semblance of that imagined inner wholeness, in the hope that humanity will be freed of its emotional isolation. Vivian Gornick, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2025 Cheng is part of a 17-member committee under Singapore’s Ministry of Transport tasked with guiding the rollout of autonomous vehicles in the city-state. Lionel Lim, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for task
Recent Examples of Synonyms for task
Noun
  • Director Delicia Turner Sonnenberg does a terrific job balancing the different tones, style and pacing of the play’s two halves.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
  • The result was a fun cameo arc that ends on the image of Scorsese breaking down in tears after Matt shelves the iconic director’s dream project to save his own job — a turn that earned Scorsese his first acting nomination.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • This information is for educational purposes and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal, tax, insurance, or investment advice.
    Heather L. Locus, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
  • From building a beauty empire to navigating purpose through pain, Monique shares the lessons, leaps of faith, and leadership tools that have shaped her journey.
    Essence, Essence, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The coach didn’t entrust anyone other than himself to ensure Allen’s safety, as he was firmly planted on the quarterback’s field, with a whistle in hand, at all times.
    Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2025
  • After more than a decade of development and testing, US military officials are finally ready to entrust United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket to haul a batch of national security satellites into space.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Its three secondary duties would be (1) domestic competition; (2) international competitiveness; and (3) investment.
    Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • So where is Adriana just a few short hours later when duty calls?
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Butler went on to play a huge role for the Warriors in the second half of the season.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
  • For months, federal investigators have been examining how tens of millions of dollars has been distributed among Hartford nonprofits, some of which play a vital role across the city’s economically distressed north side.
    Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Fifteen-year-old Tristen Smith was fatally shot in Elsmere, Kentucky, and her 15-year-old boyfriend has been charged with murder.
    Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 16 Aug. 2025
  • Last year the Community Center was paying in rent approximately $1.72 per sq ft while the Community Center was charging approximately $15 per sq ft to the tenants who sublease from them.
    Bob Skolnik, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Members of the Padres rotation make a point of watching that day’s starter warm up and a bulk assignment for Vásquez wasn’t going to change that.
    Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
  • The Chicago Tribune maintains editorial control over assignments and content.
    Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Washington is an exception – Trump has the green light to deploy troops to take on law enforcement functions under his sole command.
    Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
  • This could alter the function of these powerhouses and help explain how ALS arises.
    Katarina Zimmer, JSTOR Daily, 14 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Task.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/task. Accessed 23 Aug. 2025.

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