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
Because of this, using your range hood consistently when cooking with gas is strongly recommended, even for simple cooking tasks. Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2026 Trying to find an explanation for why a claim was denied is a fruitless task. Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
He was tasked with holding the movie’s most complex, morally challenging ideas, as a young boy running from trauma and left to decide between danger and redemption. David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 The August 26 announcement is part of the Army's Janus Program, which is tasked with developing stationary and transportable micro-reactors for defense applications. David Szondy august 31, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for task
Recent Examples of Synonyms for task
Noun
  • In April, Flock Safety opened a 97,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Smyrna that is intended to create more than 200 jobs over the next three years as part of a $10 million investment.
    Irene Wright, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The Giants are entrusting Bryce Eldridge, their 21-year-old rookie, with the job of protecting Devers in the lineup.
    Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • That last might be especially true for female human beings who may be more encouraged to have derived an identity based on our role as marital partner or parent.
    Gloria Steinem, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The case turned into a years-long legal saga, with multiple people convicted of their roles in arranging the hit, including Wendi’s brother, Charlie Adelson, and her mother, Donna.
    Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The Giants are entrusting Bryce Eldridge, their 21-year-old rookie, with the job of protecting Devers in the lineup.
    Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • My teenage aunts, entrusted with the care of thousands of white larvae feasting on lush, thick mulberry leaves, had to get up in the middle of the night to scatter more leaves into the trays.
    Jonathan Flint, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • My duties in washing the dishes mark the exact time and place.
    Alex Jovanovich, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • And in 2025, when Mexico raised duties on Chinese autos and steel, China put tariffs on Mexican pecans.
    Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • By the end of Saturday night, the sanctuary had served two purposes at once.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Chevy provided The Drive with travel, accommodations, and access to the vehicle for the purpose of writing this review.
    Jerry Perez, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Walsh, 40, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder on Friday, police announced.
    Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Bossell is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, third-degree assault of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and tampering with a motor vehicle in connection with the death of 29-year-old Graham Hoffman.
    Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • With the woeful Colorado Rockies coming to the Bronx, the Yankees could, effectively, treat those three games as the equivalent of a minor league rehab assignment for Judge.
    Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • In 1963, Gloria Steinem went undercover for a journalism assignment as a Playboy bunny, exposing degrading working conditions that forced policy changes.
    Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • On October 4, 2016, the famously quiet, reserved fighter picked up her phone, opened her Twitter (now ‘X’ ) app and clicked on the ‘search’ function.
    Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The overwhelming response from our community reflects the strength of pairing On’s innovative heritage with our deep understanding of women and our passion for blending function with style.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Task.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/task. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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