task 1 of 2

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
Add being a parent to tween girls in the White House and that task becomes even trickier. Janine Rubenstein, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025 Staying on top of daily administrative tasks like payroll and invoicing is complicated enough. Danielle Higley, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
The protection included 14 National Guard troops tasked with perimeter security, while local police provided immediate security. CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025 Then, Hoffman was tasked with the last out of the eighth inning and then the ninth. Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for task
Recent Examples of Synonyms for task
Noun
  • Duffy had been angling to hold on to the NASA job, according to media reports.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Ausberry was promoted to the interim job in Woodward’s place, and the board gave him the authority to lead the coaching hire.
    Chris Vannini, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The transformation comes approximately three years after going blonde for her role in the movie musical.
    Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
  • The training will cover key roles, including line producing, location management, post production supervision, production accounting, being an assistant director, being a production assistant, being a production coordinator, and script supervising.
    Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • That Carroll, one of the most accomplished coaches of his generation, entrusted the Las Vegas offense to Kelly seems to have been a massive whiff.
    Michael Silver, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
  • In Kelly, the Dolphins will entrust day-to-day interim GM duties, for now, to a former All-Academic SEC receiver at Kentucky with expertise in computer science, 18 years of player evaluation in various roles and a kind heart.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • At the time, the 56-year-old was given the go-ahead to continue his coaching duties during his treatment.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
  • To garrison those vulnerable treasure houses, Britain had to reassign regiments from tours of duty in North America and abandon Philadelphia, the biggest prize the redcoats had taken so far.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • However, this approach defeats the primary purpose of insurance, which is to protect against catastrophic costs in the event of an unexpected medical crisis.
    Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Grief pressed in, but so did purpose.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Sanders has since been charged with intentionally abandoning a child younger than 15 without intent to return, a third-degree felony charge in Texas, according to court documents.
    Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
  • This Epicka Universal Travel Adapter is a T+L favorite overall pick due to its four different plug types that are compatible with over 200 sockets worldwide and its ability to charge up to six devices at once.
    Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Daniel McFadin is a general assignment reporter who has been with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since October 2022.
    Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The 29-year-old outfielder left the Baltimore organization last offseason after just one big-league plate appearance, but returned in a waiver claim in August after he was designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants.
    Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • However, the function of the stabilimentum has been a subject of intense, ongoing debate, researchers noted.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Instead of gathering experts who advocate for their functional perspective and then compromise, AI enables teams where each member can think holistically across functions.
    François Candelon, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Task.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/task. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on task

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!