Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

assignment

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of assignment

1 a piece of work that needs to be done regularly
  • His first newspaper assignment was writing obituaries.
Synonyms of assignment

chore, duty, job, task
Words Related to assignment

endeavor, enterprise, project, stint, undertaking

care, charge, commission, responsibility

function, mission, office, operation, post

errand

circuit, round, route
2 a specific task with which a person or group is charged
  • The spy team's assignment was to steal the enemy's plans.
Synonyms of assignment

brief, business, charge, detail, job, mission, operation, post
Words Related to assignment

burden, chore, duty, need, obligation, office, requirement, responsibility

errand, labor, work

commitment, pledge, promise

appointment, commission, designation, nomination

compulsion, constraint, restraint
3 something assigned to be read or studied
  • Have you read the assignment for tomorrow?
Synonyms of assignment

lesson, reading
Words Related to assignment

homework, schoolwork

lecture

drill, exercise, practice (also practise)

étude, study
4 the state or fact of being chosen for a position or duty
  • Her assignment to the board of directors was a point of considerable pride for her.
Synonyms of assignment

appointment, commission, designation
Words Related to assignment

billet, gig, job, office, place, position, situation, spot, station

authorization, delegation, deputation, emplacement, placement, ranking

anointing, anointment, induction, installation, installment (also instalment), instating, investiture, investment, ordination

choice, choosing, destination, election, nomination, picking, selection, singling (out)
Near Antonyms of assignment

blackball, rejection

deposition, dethronement, ejection, eviction, ouster, overthrow, removal
Antonyms of assignment

discharge, dismissal, dismission, expulsion, firing

Synonym Discussion of assignment

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

Learn More about assignment

  1. See words that rhyme with assignment Dictionary: Definition of assignment Spanish Central: Translation of assignment Nglish: Translation of assignment for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of assignment for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up assignment? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games